Author:
Nai Alessandro,Maier Jürgen
Abstract
Abstract
This chapter presents evidence that politicians with dark personalities are potentially detrimental for the current state and functioning of democracy. The chapter investigates whether the dark personality of political figures is associated with lower turnout, voters’ cynicism, and affective polarization—and suggests that this might seem to be the case. Finally, the chapter explores whether the personality of political leaders is related to real-world outcomes of their governance, looking in particular at three tangible outcomes: the economic performance of the country, how the country tackled the Covid-19 pandemic, and whether the country is facing signs of democratic deconsolidation. Leaders’ personality matters for real-world outcomes. If dark leaders tend to perform better in terms of economic outcomes (higher GDP), their countries are also marred by higher pandemic-related mortality and a deterioration of democratic rights.
Publisher
Oxford University PressNew York
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