Political leadership as social capital: Governing in a divided national culture

Social capital is the latest conceptual attempt to account for democracy's persistence and, when it occurs, its success. Yet that focus neglects an essential element of democracy's performance, leadership capital. Leadership capital consists of the competence, integrity, and capacities for performance that leaders may have or bring to bear on society's problems. However, it is grounded and unfolds in a society's culture and psychology. increasing diversity and cultural conflict place strong pressures on leadership, capital accumulation in societies like the United States, and they require different strategies of leadership if accumulated leadership capital is not to be depleted.