Leadership Selection in Six Western Democracies (Hardcover)

This is a comparative survey that discusses how national leaders in six Western democracies - France, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and the United States - are nominated for the highest office in their respective countries. The combinations of methods each country utilizes to nominate their leaders are described. The text emphasizes that most national leaders have served a long apprenticeship in various public offices - sometimes having made several attempts - before actually being nominated to the nation's highest public office. It is revealed that increasingly opinion polls, television, and professional campaign management are playing a greater role in the leadership selection process in the six countries.