EJBO Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies

Vol. 29, No. 1 (2024)

Globally (Ir)Responsible Leadership - Viewpoints
on the Current Political Leadership Debate
EDITORIAL
Tuomo Takala (Editor-in-Chief)

Abstract

Populism and ethics

In this general article, I want
to set forth some phenomenaof contemporary politics,
and theoretical concepts anddiscussions that are connectedwith them. Relevant topics
are related to the conflicting
tendencies of the modern world.
Not least with and because of
the Ukraine crisis. This is why it
is important to bring up points
presented in the following
treatment. Following themes will
be considered: populism andethics, ideology and politics, badfaith and ideology, propaganda
and persuasion, putinism as an
ideology, Trumpian power andcharisma. In the end of the article
some conclusions will be put
forth.

Populism is a political ideology that focuses on the needs and interests of ordinary
people. It emphasizes the power of thepeople and calls for government action toaddress the concerns of the people. Populism often involves appeals to the common people, a rejection of the politicaland economic establishment, and the useof populist rhetoric to appeal to the people. Populists often support policies thatare seen as benefiting the people, such associal welfare programs, economic regulation, and protection of workers' rights.
Populists have been prominent in many
countries, including the United States,
Latin America, and Europe.
First, populist rhetoric rejects thepremise of the pursuit of truth. Various
half-truths and facts taken out of context
are fine for that, if they serve the ideological or political goals of their presenters. At the same time, it denies the uncertainty of information and the premise of
the research approach that new research
results lead to correcting our views.
Secondly, the arsenal of populist rhetoric also includes incorrect comparisons,which aim to hide the problematic natureof one's own views by appealing to seemingly "similar" other phenomena, even if
there is not sufficient commonality. The
parallel phenomenon of incorrect comparisons is the distortion of history, inwhich similar phenomena and problems
from history are applied to contemporary
politics, even if there is no sufficient basis
to prove the commonality of things.
A third typical feature is the exploitation of easy explanations. In this case, asingle characteristic of a person or evena loose connection to something "suspicious" in the past can be brought up as an
explanation for current views or actions.
It goes without saying that such explanations are usually hoax and at worst takeon the characteristics of conspiracy theories.
It can be argued that there is also green
populism, feminist populism, anarchist
populism and populism connected tovarious religions. However, it should be

Key Words: Populism,propaganda, symbolism,
charisma4

noted that the deeper we go into the true
understanding of the concept of populism, it is quite a different thing to talkabout, say, green populism and, on the
one hand, radical right-wing populism,
because the latter excludes the people ascitizens of the state, and is anti-pluralist.
For populists both on the left and on theright - everything is justified on the basis that something is done for the goodof the people. (see Lahti & Mörttinen,
2023, p.62)
Populism and ethics are two concepts
that are often discussed in relation to politics and governance. Populism is a political ideology that emphasizes the importance of the "people" and their interests,
while ethics refers to a system of moral
principles that guide human behavior.The
relationship between populism and ethics
can be complex, as populist leaders often
make claims to represent the interestsof the people while disregarding ethicalprinciples such as transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. Populism can also be associated with a simplistic view of complex problems, which
can lead to policies that are not based on
sound evidence or ethical considerations.
However, it is also possible for populism and ethics to be compatible. Populist movements can arise from legitimate
grievances and concerns of ordinary people, and can champion ethical principles
such as social justice, equality, and theprotection of the environment. Populist
leaders can also act in ethical ways, by
upholding democratic values, promoting
transparency and accountability, and respecting the rule of law. Ultimately, therelationship between populism and ethics
depends on how these concepts are defined and applied in practice. Populism
can be a force for positive change if it isguided by ethical principles and a commitment to democratic values, but it canalso be a source of danger if it leads to theerosion of ethical standards and the concentration of power in the hands of a few.
Ideology and politics
Ideology and politics are two closely related concepts. Ideology is a set of beliefs and values that shape an individual
or group’s view of the world. Politics is
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EJBO Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies

the process by which a society organizes itself to make decisions, allocate resources, and settle conflicts. Ideology and politics are interrelated because the beliefs and values that make up
an individual’s or group’s ideology can influence their approach
to politics. Ideology can also shape the way a society organizes
itself and the decisions it makes. Ideology can be a major factor in the formation of political parties and the development ofpolitical actions.
As Kokko states, in terms of power and propagandistic activity, our postmodern society is in the partial transition. The
reason for the change can be attributed to the change in thesocial identity of individuals, which can be blamed on the development of information networks. The expansion of information networks of our everyday life has pushed societies towards
change, because the old socialization mechanisms with theirstrict norms do not guide people enjoying themselves in information networks in the same way as they did before. Whether
information networks create new societal social norms depends
on the openness of social communities. On the other hand, in
relation to information networks, it can be observed that digitalsociality and social networks operating in the digital dimension
are partially obscuring the theoretical definition of organizations, because social associations can be found in the Internetthat do not have any official purpose. On the other hand, power
also exists in digital social structures, but the characteristics of
those who wield power do not necessarily correlate with thosein the real world. Due to the "untamedness" of information
networks, the amount of propaganda has increased strongly insocial services on the Internet. (see Kokko, 2013)
Bad faith and ideology"Bad faith" is a Sartrean philosophical concept that refers to astate of self-deception or dishonesty in which an individual orgroup may engage. When someone is acting in bad faith, they
may be knowingly disregarding their own beliefs or values, ormisrepresenting the truth to others.
"Ideology," on the other hand, refers to a set of beliefs, values, and principles that shape an individual or group's worldview and guide their actions and decisions. Ideologies can be political, religious, social, or cultural in nature, and often involvea particular vision for society or a specific set of goals or ideals.
The relationship between bad faith and ideology is complex.
On the one hand, an ideology can provide a framework for individuals to act in good faith, with a clear sense of purpose and direction. However, ideologies can also be used to justify bad faithbehavior, such as lying, manipulation, or exploitation. For example, someone who strongly believes in a particular ideology may
engage in bad faith behavior by disregarding evidence that contradicts their beliefs, or by misrepresenting their views to others
in order to gain power or influence. Alternatively, someone may
use an ideology as a way of justifying unethical or immoral actions, such as discrimination, violence, or oppression.
Overall, while ideologies can provide a sense of direction andpurpose, they can also be used to justify bad faith behavior. It is
important for individuals to critically examine their own beliefs
and actions to ensure that they are acting in good faith and notusing ideology as a means of justifying harmful behavior. The
concept "distorted ideology" created by Jason Stanley helps tobetter understand the post-truth era. According to him, propaganda has expanded into entire erroneous worldviews that seem
natural to their supporters. This makes it possible to present andspread false information. In a distorted ideology, propaganda
is therefore a kind of meta-level manipulation from where you
5Vol. 29, No. 1 (2024)

can't see out (Pitkänen & Sutinen, 256). This is how you manage
to spread a lie as truth and accept it, as long as it has enough supporters who create group pressure.
Propaganda and persuasion
Propaganda and persuasion are related concepts, but they havedifferent connotations and goals. Propaganda refers to the systematic dissemination of information, ideas, or opinions, usuallywith the intention of influencing public opinion or promoting aparticular agenda. Propaganda can take many forms, including
advertisements, news reports, speeches, and social media posts.
The purpose of propaganda is to shape public perception andbehavior in a way that benefits the propagandist or the organization they represent.
Persuasion, on the other hand, is the act of convincing someone to change their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. Persuasion
can also take many forms, including logical arguments, emotional appeals, and appeals to authority. The purpose of persuasion is to change someone's mind or behavior in a way that benefits the persuader. While propaganda and persuasion both aim
to influence people's attitudes and behavior, propaganda is often
associated with manipulative or deceptive tactics, while persuasion is often seen as a legitimate means of communication.
Propaganda can be used to promote harmful or unethical agendas, while persuasion can be used to promote positive change
and encourage people to take action for the greater good. In
summary, propaganda and persuasion are both powerful toolsof communication, but they differ in their goals, methods, andethical implications.
For example, Kivijärvi and Takala (2022) study focuses on the
stigmatization in media discourse and the impression management tactics used by the presidential candidate to resist stigma.
The analysis builds on Steyrer’s Impression continuum of leadership and contributes to our understanding of how the social construction of some populist leaders takes place at the continuous
bordering between charisma and stigma. The results highlight
how religion, radical nationalism and erosion of authoritativeness are used as the main sources for attributing stigma. These
are resisted through moral argumentation and strong leadership.
The modern study of propaganda came about after World War
I and led the way to the social scientific study of persuasion. At
the same time the word propaganda became less used and was
replaced by the words such as communication, information, andpersuasion because they imply no value judgement and tend toembrace the development of new communication technologies
as well as the “intricate perplexities inherent in developing societies and international diplomacy” (see Jowett and O’Donnell,p.35). Propaganda is a form of communication and can, therefore, be depicted as a process. A model of propaganda process
therefore includes the sociohistorical context; a cultural rim
made up of government, economy, events, ideology and mythsof society; the propaganda institution, the propaganda agents,
media methods, the social network; and the public. Generalisations about propaganda in modern society are based also on theseveral events and concepts. (ibid p. 262).
In Italy, there has been some populistic movements during
this decade. In the autumn of 2023, the populist Giorgia Meloni's government will practice conservative right-wing politics.
For example, it has cut social benefits, toughened penalties andtightened the asylum policy. Recently, Meloni's release has become more institutional after he came to power. But it's aboutcommunication, the values have remained unchanged. At theheart of Meloni's politics is the defense of traditional family values. He raises child allowances and speaks loudly in favor of a
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higher birth rate. Italy is threatened by a population crisis: thepopulation is aging rapidly and the number of children born lastyear was the lowest in Matali's measurement history, i.e. since
1861.
Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 and while some of theblame is placed on Israel, it does not explain the state's complete
dysfunction. Israeli historian Noah Harari states that history is
not a morality play. The real explanation for Israel's failure ispopulism rather than any alleged moral lapse. Harari continues
that for years Israel has been ruled by a populist leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is a communication genius but an incompetent prime minister. Time and time again, he has put his
own interests before the national interest and built his career
on dividing the nation in two. He has appointed people to key
positions based on their loyalty rather than competence, taking
credit for every step forward but never responsibility for failure.
Putinism as an Ideology and using of propaganda
Putinism" is a term used to describe the political system andideology associated with president Putin. It is not a well-definedideology with a specific set of principles or beliefs, but rather
a collection of ideas and policies that are often associated with
Putin's leadership style and worldview. Some of the key featuresof Putinism include:
•

•

•

•

•

Centralized power: Putinism is characterized by a highly
centralized system of governance, with Putin as the ultimate authority. Power is concentrated in the hands of thepresident and his close associates, who have significant control over the political, economic, and social spheres of Russian life.
Nationalism: Putinism emphasizes the importance of Russian national identity and promotes a strong sense of patriotism among the Russian people. This includes a focus on
Russian history, culture, and traditions, as well as a commitment to defending Russian interests both at home andabroad.
Anti-Westernism: Putinism is seen to be very critical toward Western liberal democracy and its perceived culturaland moral decay. Putin and his supporters have frequently
portrayed Russia as a bulwark against Western influence andas a defender of traditional values.
Authoritarianism: Putinism is characterized by a strong authoritarian streak, with little tolerance for dissent or opposition. Critics argue that Putin's regime has limited civil
liberties, curtailed press freedom, and suppressed political
opposition in order to maintain its grip on power.
Economic nationalism: Putinism emphasizes economic
self-sufficiency and the importance of protecting Russianindustries from foreign competition. This has often involved government intervention in the economy, including
state ownership of key industries and the use of protectionist policies to shield Russian companies from international
competition.

Overall, Putinism can be seen as a hybrid of various political ideologies, including nationalism, authoritarianism, and populism.
While it has been successful in maintaining Putin's grip on power, critics argue that it has come at the cost of democratic norms
and human rights in Russia. In the autumn 2023, Russia hasestablished a new political propaganda project. Russia has started a new history teaching -lesson that has been changed to suit
the Kremlin at all school levels. A new historian learning book
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was also introduced in elementary schools in the fall. According
to the researchers, the key to everything is to get through the
Kremlin and Putin's world of thought. Putin is rewriting history to serve his power. According to researchers, Russia's new
subject is not based on science. We must notice and emphasizethat the new subject does not mean that the Russian leadershipis now creating a new ideology of Putinism. Of course, Putin's
personality and world of thought are influential, but Putin is nota theoretician or a philosopher.
In Russia, we can talk about a super-presidential system,
which has been shaped into a fairly stylish dictatorship under
Putin, says political researcher Lassila. Putin can be assumed to
be spinning in historical geopolitical delusions, as it were, andthus does not have the same concern and pressure created bypolitical responsibility that democratic heads of state have. In
Russia, the president exercises absolute supreme power, where,
unlike in democracies, there is practically no mechanism to control the actions of the head of state. Putin wants to order evensmall administrative actions. According to researcher, Korkeila,
the reason for the need for micromanagement is that, from thepoint of view of the people and the administration, the "all-powerful person" is a great savior for the people and, along with his
own efforts. He is also pushed into position of excessive power,
where small things flow upwards, even though power is nominally given to subordinates. However, with dictators, the concrete fear of death is constantly present. Authoritarian systems
are inherently more inefficient because a huge amount of political energy has to be used to stay in power and protect one's own
position.
Indeed, Russian system also has a totalitarian component. Anda totalitarian regime needs the mobilization of its subjects. So it
is no longer enough for everyone to be passive. That's why the
Kremlin is also targeting children and young people with the
propaganda it accelerates. The Russian leadership explains that
it is fighting a defensive battle for Russia's existence against theWest and presents the war as something that will purify andbenefit Russia.
For example, Professor Kangaspuro has put forth that Russia has begun to speak harshly about Finland and Finns. Finland
is no longer a friendly neighbor whose citizens you can get toknow. Russian propaganda now brings out negative news anddark aspects of history from Finland. For example, the Russians
are told how during the Continuation War the Finns held concentration camps in Eastern Karelia and engaged in systematic
torture. However, it could be that the propaganda will not immediately sink in with Russians. It will take time before Russians'
image of Finns changes. In Russia, people have so many personal
foundations, at least among the Russians in the surrounding areas. Propaganda hardly takes root there very quickly. Russians
have had the opportunity to form an image of Finns when they
have visited Finland on a cabin trip or shopping. Professor Kangaspuro thinks that when time passes, people's personal connections are broken and the formation of a vision of Finland is lacking, one-sided propaganda will gain ground. The touch surface
is getting thinner, there is no counter-information or counterpropaganda. Misinformation has a more fertile ground to grip
people's minds. It is often quite humane for people to think that
if something drastic is claimed, there must be some basis for it.
They don't turn us, Finnish people, into monsters very easily intheir propaganda and hopefully the war will end before it happens. There are many supporting continuities that work against
it in people's everyday consciousness.
Charisma and power – Trump in the spotlight
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Charisma and power are two different qualities. Charisma is
the ability to influence and inspire others through an attractive
personality, while power is the ability to gain control or influence over people or situations. Charisma is an intangible quality,
while power is a tangible one. Charisma is often seen as a morepositive trait, while power can be seen as a more negative one.
Ultimately, both charisma and power can be used for good or
bad ends, depending on the individual and their intention.
Charismatic leadership has an emotional influence that populism uses in its own ideology. It creates its own "truths" andvalues. Our forthcoming study will find out what is President
Trump's leadership like as the most influential leader in (during his presidential period) in the USA and the whole world in
the light of the charisma study. How do populism and charisma
connect together in populist Trumpian leadership? How does
the truth transform into a product of the post-truth era, i.e.
into opinions? As Plato said, "knowledge is not a belief, it is atrue belief", an opinion is not the truth, even though the current social information society wants to convince us that this is
the case. Twitter truth is a product of the post-truth era, which
e.g. Trump strongly exploits. What is the relationship between
charisma and populism? The assumption is a dialectical interaction, where one force accelerates the other, and this is how weprogress dialectically through collisions and confrontations towards a new post truth future and the dystopia of the 2020s. The
empirical research material (research material) of the study willconsist of articles dealing with populism and charisma publishedin Helsingin Sanomat from 2010-2020. In particular, it delves
into Donald Trump's populism, power and charisma. In the
study, he represents a case example, on the basis of which thedialectical path of progress from a rascal to a ruler is illustrated.
Now it could be the time for US President Joe Biden – andthe world. The time is now, in the spring of 2024, over 200 days
until the next US presidential election. They can return Donald
Trump to the White House, whom a clear majority of Republicans, according to polls, want as their party's presidential candidate.Trump's possible return is awaited with fear in many places,
as his previous presidency was a stormy period that ended withthe president's supporters trying to prevent the change of powerwith a violent takeover of Congress. Democratic President Joe
Biden has not been able to unite a divided nation, although he
has managed to repair some of the damage caused by the Trump
era.The United States has once again taken its place as the leaderof the free world. This would be threatened if Trump made acomeback.
Trump claimed some time ago that he could force Russia andUkraine into a deal that would end Russia's war of aggression
in one day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi publicly
wondered why Trump did not carry out his stunt as president,
if it is once so excellent. Russia certainly hopes for Trump's victory.
Trumpian charisma. "Trumpian charisma" refers to theunique style of charisma exhibited by former U.S. President
Donald Trump. It is characterized by his flamboyant personality,
outspokenness, and a penchant for speaking his mind. Trump's
charisma is also often associated with his ability to connect withhis base of supporters and his use of simple, direct language that
resonates with his audience. While some people find Trump's
charisma compelling and inspiring, others find it polarizing oreven off-putting. Regardless of one's personal opinion of Trump,his style of charisma has been a subject of much discussion andanalysis, particularly in the political and media spheres.
The Republican National Convention is in July 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.The Democratic National Convention will
7

Vol. 29, No. 1 (2024)

be held in August in Chicago, Illinois.The meetings are supposed
to choose the parties' presidential candidates.This option has the
feel of a reoccurring disaster. Trump was elected as the Republican candidate for president in November 2016. He lost the next
election four years later to Democrat Joe Biden. Next summer
it will be known whether the same men will face each otheragain in the elections in November 2024.
In the summer of August 2023, Trump was charged with four
counts related to his activities after the 2020 presidential election. Trump, who was representing the Republicans at the time,
lost to the Democratic candidate Joe Biden. After the election,
however, Trump did not accept the legal result of the election.
According to the indictment, the new charges concern conspiring to violate citizens' rights and defrauding the federal government by attempting to overturn the election result, as well as
obstructing the investigation and attempts to obstruct it. On
Thursday (August 3),Trump was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings, and attempting to obstruct official proceedings. Trump
was also charged with conspiracy. Trump is accused of trying
to influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, in
total there are 13 charges against the former president. Trump
was ordered to Bail $200,000 and a historic arrest photo wasalso taken of him. No US president has ever been arrested before. Former US President Donald Trump surrendered to theauthorities at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, early
Friday (August 25) Finnish time. Trump arrived at the prison
after half past two on Friday morning and left the place a little
before three in the morning.
The following information is revealed by the image measurement of the NORC research institute operating in connection
with the news agency AP and the University of Chicago at theend of August 2023.The survey asked respondents to say the firstword that comes to mind about the main candidates. The survey
does not give a flattering image of either candidate. When Biden
is associated with old age, Trump is associated with crime. For
Trump, almost a quarter of the respondents mentioned words
related to corruption, crimes, lying and unreliability.
The committee of the House of Representatives that investigated the attack on the US Capitol in January 2021 has published its long-awaited final report. The report is more than 800
pages long and sums up an investigation that lasted more than 18
months, during which the committee, among other things, conducted more than a thousand interviews. In the report, which is
divided into eight parts, it is estimated that the former presidentof the country, Donald Trump, is primarily responsible for theviolence in the Congress building.
In the autumn 2023 Trump’s supporters' power only getsstronger. The accusations against Trump have not reduced theformer president's support, let alone made supporters backdown. Trump’s support has become stronger. This reminds
some kind of a cult and a religious leader. In their own thinking,people associate all relevant matters with him and refuse to seeanything else. We can speculate that the more serious questionis in what way the US political system re-produces political consciousness. Because of many causes no one has a good answer,
but it seems that politics has become not only mud wrestling,
but also show wrestling. So Americans are a struggle in politics,
but don't connect with it themselves or react to it as passionately
as they should.
Francoise Heisbourg is a respected French security and defense policy expert and adviser. Trump's re-election as president is a realistic risk, says Heisbourg. The result of the 2024
US presidential election will affect the security of Europeans
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in a way that is difficult to predict. Trump has promised to end
the Ukraine war in 24 hours if he is elected. This week, Zelenskyi demanded that Trump reveal his plans immediately. Donald
Trump, who is overwhelmingly leading the Republican polls,
has been horrified by how much military aid the country has
already given to Ukraine: "We don't have ammunition for ourselves." However, Ukraine's support has both Biden's and the
Senate majority's support, but next year the presidential election at the end can shake up the situation. Among the Republican candidates, it has already been commented that Ukraine's
funding would be better used "in the attack on our own southern border".
Struggle for symbolic power
One central device presented in political theory is the using ofsymbols. New York artist Scott LoBaido's latest visual art work
has been signed by Donald Trump himself. The painting is called
Furious Animals. In the painting Donkeys represent Democrats
and rhinoceroses represent Republicans who are not in the sameside with Democrats. Like rabid animals, they try to bring thisman down, but he doesn't give up, LoBaido describes to MTV
News, in his art studio on Staten Island. The painting imitates
the famous photograph from World War II, where American soldiers raise the American flag during the battle of Iwo Jima. In
LoBaido's work, the flag is raised by Trump.
As Pekonen states, from the viewpoint briefly sketched above
we can say that one central feature in the modern politics is the
struggle for symbolic power with whose and with what kinds ofsymbols reality is determined at each time. The struggle overwhose symbolic definition of a situation will prevail is often thesymbolic battle in a political conflict and a critical determinantof its outcome. We may say that modern democracy differs fromearlier political systems in that nowadays the political systempresupposes and leans on the concept of legitimacy perhaps morethan ever before – remembering that this legitimacy in a way
presupposes and come from talk and from also e.g visual artifacts. We must notice that the symbol is not only a reflection ofreality, it also “refracts and structures; symbolization is always
more than a process of naming. Symbol is both a cultural andsubjective effort to make reality understandable and significant by defining that reality. On the other hand symbol may bea mean in a political process. Here symbol may be a mean in
making sensible that is not yet known; symbol may tell about“some other reality”; a symbol may be a vehicle in aiming at
some new. When the symbol is the vehicle something new, it
has also its own “symbolical mode”. Political symbols, and especially their potential for manipulation, are more evident intransitional or crisis periods than in periods of relative peace.
(see Pekonen,1987).
Conclusions
Charismatic leaders have the power and the ability to manipulate
and misguide people. To prevent this misbehaving, it is important to promote processes of transformative ethical leadership.
Thus, commitment, value-congruence, and communality are in
the play a key positions. Charismatic leaders could be weak persons with destructive narcissist power. Good management andleadership are also central factors influencing these processes.
Destructive and narcissistic leaders are, on the other hand, nega-

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tive dark forces causing damage and harm in organizations. It
may be that the acceptance of authoritarianism and submission
to it, is a permanent characteristic of human nature, and theemergence of tyranny requires a certain kind of social upheaval.
In conclusion, I would like to set forth in this general article
several elements, or phenomena, which prevail in political action and on the other hand also create and renew our commonsocial reality as concepts. Political movements, mass movements
and official political parties have become increasingly active inthe 2020s. It may be that the acceptance of authoritarianism andsubmission to it is a permanent characteristic of human nature,and the emergence of tyranny requires a certain kind of social
upheaval. Major political events, such as the war in Ukraine,
have created new phenomena to be studied, such as information
warfare, widespread influence of opinion, and the diversification of war. War is no longer a battle on the front lines, but war
permeates the whole society. It is present everywhere. Rhetorics, fake news, propaganda and post-truth argumentation are
an integral part of information transmission especially in war
societies. This is why it is important to reveal and study these
phenomena also in academic research, which has traditionally
strived for genuine truthfulness.
What could be the solution? For example, Niemi and Houni(2018, p.284) present as the solution the so-called negotiation
journalism. Here, the focus is not on opposing populism, but on
producing publicity that does not feed populistic claims about
understanding the people and manipulating the elite media. The
means are clarifying the tension, listening and maintaining trust.
Different types of media react differently to populist rhetoric.
The meanings attached to populism create a division between
the popular and the daily press, the entertaining afternoon press
believes in populism as the "voice of the people" and the daily
papers, in turn, emphasize populism as a threat to democracy.
ost-truth argumentation are an integral part of informationtransmission especially in war societies. This is why it is important to reveal and study these phenomena also in academic research, which has traditionally strived for genuine truthfulness.
I agree with Delanty (2023) when he put forth that the focusof academic analysis must be different compared with old: toward more global issues, and I will add the study of wars, in thislist. One of the major changes is that the old socio-political theory that dominated in the 1970s was very western. The Frankfurt School tradition for example, which as Delanty said was
his chief inspiration, was extremely Euroentric in its concerns,
with almost no concern whatsoever with questions relating tocolonialism. Habermas’s major reconstruction of critical theory
in the Theory of Communicative Action was exclusively concerned with problems in western societies. This is also the casewith regard to the work of Bourdieu and Foucault. The concern with New Social Movements and political emancipationin Habermas and other theorists was conceived entirely fromthe perspective of the post-industrial societies of the westernworld. Then, there is the absence of any adequate theorizationof nature, at least nothing that is in anyway relevant to current
issues. It is true of course that Foucault brought about a massive transformation in theory, right across the social and human sciences concerning how we think about power, the selfand history. Foucault' s work opened new visions beyond thelimits of western history, even if that was his own preoccupation, as reflected in post-politics and post-colonialism. (see Social theory: Legacies and future directions – An interview with
Gerard Delanty.)

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Tampere.
Takala, T. (2010). Dark Leadership, Charisma and Trust.
Psychology, 1, 59-63.

Kirjoittaja
Emeritus Professor Tuomo Takala is a Doctor of Business Economics (1991), Philosophy (2012) and Sociology (2013). He has been acted
long time as a Professor in charge of Management and Leadership discipline and has also had several administrative duties, e.g. Vice
Dean of the faculty (2001-2003) and Dean of the Faculty (2003-2004) in the University of Jyväskylä, School of Business and Economics.
His research areas include Responsible Business & Administration, Leadership & Narratives and Charismatic Leadership.
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http://ejbo.jyu.fi/