Some Aspects of Political Leadership on the Example of Historical Persona

Abstract

The article is dedicated to analysis of influence of Hong Xiuquan’s on the course of Taiping Rebellion. The main focus of the work is directed on the issue of how the given historical persona has been shaped as a leader of low-income layers of Chinese population. In order to illuminate this question, the author observes the central socio-political ideas implemented by Hong Xiuquan during the Taiping Rebellion as well as his religious views, which had a fundamental role in Taiping’s movement ideology. In the course of the article, the author scrutinizes historical data which indicates such qualities of Hong Xiuquan as striving to achieve the highest outcomes, his persistence in realization of set tasks and ability to lead millions of Chinese peasants purposing on the radical reformation in Chinese state, which had experienced a deep crisis. On the other hand, the article demonstrates Hong Xiuquan’s qualities which have negatively affected the course of the revolutionary movement. To be precise, in the article are presented disadvantages of applying principles of mystical worldview and self-deification to the process of administration. In conclusion, the author, relying on the historical sources, highlights the significance of Hong Xiuquan’s personality and peculiarities of his leadership style in the context of their imprint on the Chinese revolutionary processes in the middle of the XIX century.

Keywords

• politics
• taiping rebellion
• political image
• power
• religious leadership