Leaders of democracy An EU-funded project studied the effect of outstanding individuals on democracy. The research produced a string of publications, and a new understanding of Greek populism. Climate Change and Environment © Thinkstock The classic liberal idea of democracy includes continuity and gradual change, though in fact democracies experience discontinuities and often evolve in sudden bursts. Such radical change may originate from outstanding individual leaders. Thus, the EU-funded 'Extraordinary leadership and radical change in democracy' (EXTRALEAD) project aimed to understand and develop a general theoretical model of such leadership. Research examined how the emergence of key pioneers affects change in contemporary European democracies, focusing on Greece. The two-year undertaking concluded in August 2013. The study achieved its goals in spite of two unforeseen circumstances. One was the death, two weeks before the project's scheduled commencement, of its intended coordinator; a replacement was arranged. Around the same time, Greece experienced political turmoil. The events led to a revised project focus, to include an analysis of the populism featured in contemporary Greek politics. Research led to an academic book publishing contract, four peer-reviewed journal articles, one book chapter and numerous other miscellaneous publications. The work was presented at approximately 20 conferences or workshops, resulting in several media appearances. Project activities included two visiting positions (one in Norway and one in Sweden), two workshops on populism and external consulting work. The training received during the project resulted in improved skills in project management and policy relevance. EXTRALEAD's work extended understanding of political leadership and populism, having an ongoing relevance to politics in Europe and beyond. In addition, the investigation has made Europe more competitive in the project-specific research fields. Keywords Democracy, Greek populism, leadership, pioneers, politics, political leadership
