James MacGregor Burns
Encyclopedia
James MacGregor Burns is an historian and political scientist, presidential biographer, and authority on leadership studies
. He is the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Government Emeritus at Williams College
and Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park
. In 1971, Professor Burns received the Pulitzer Prize
and the National Book Award
for history for his biography of America's 32nd president, Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom, 1940-1945.
Burns has shifted the focus of leadership studies from the traits and actions of great men to the interaction of leaders and their constituencies as collaborators working toward mutual benefit. He is best known for his contributions to the transformational, aspirational, and visionary schools of leadership theory.
Burns' research regarding the transformational theory focuses on how leaders approach power. The transformational theory yields several pros which are: it appeals to the moral side of developing social values and individual purpose, asks the most fundamental question of what the ultimate goal of leadership is and why one should be a leader, and it allows avenues for humans to avoid potential disasters such as overpopulation, etc. However, there are cons also associated with this theory. The cons include: its dependency upon the motivation of a given population, its inability to work in an emergency situation, and the ability of a transformational leader to deal with leaders who are less knowledgeable of the theory.
Burns also holds fast to a hierarchy of values. He places public values at the top of his hierarchy. His values are based upon the values upheld by the signers of the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Read more: http://www.leadership-central.com/burns-transformational-leadership-theory.html#ixzz1eqRBVIOd
Read more: http://www.leadership-central.com/burns-transformational-leadership-theory.html#ixzz1eqR0CPa3
Read more: http://www.leadership-central.com/burns-transformational-leadership-theory.html#ixzz1eqQnfFz5
Burns received his bachelor's degree from Williams College and his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard, and he also attended the London School of Economics. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he is past president of the American Political Science Association and the International Society of Political Psychology.
Burns was the Democratic nominee for the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts in 1958 and was also elected a delegate to four Democratic National Conventions. Burns served in the military as combat historian in the Pacific theater during World War II; he was awarded the Bronze Star and four Battle Stars. Throughout his military adventures, Burns noticed that when leadership was mentioned, it was in terms of officers and their traits and qualities, but did not include soldiers.
Burns has advocated repeal of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution
to allow effective US presidents to serve three or more terms of office.
Excerpts from Burns's book, Leadership:
Leadership studies
Leadership studies is a multidisciplinary academic field of study that focuses on leadership in organizational contexts and in human life. Leadership studies has origins in the social sciences , in humanities , as well as in professional and applied fields of study...
. He is the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Government Emeritus at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
and Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. In 1971, Professor Burns received the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
and the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
for history for his biography of America's 32nd president, Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom, 1940-1945.
Burns has shifted the focus of leadership studies from the traits and actions of great men to the interaction of leaders and their constituencies as collaborators working toward mutual benefit. He is best known for his contributions to the transformational, aspirational, and visionary schools of leadership theory.
Burns' research regarding the transformational theory focuses on how leaders approach power. The transformational theory yields several pros which are: it appeals to the moral side of developing social values and individual purpose, asks the most fundamental question of what the ultimate goal of leadership is and why one should be a leader, and it allows avenues for humans to avoid potential disasters such as overpopulation, etc. However, there are cons also associated with this theory. The cons include: its dependency upon the motivation of a given population, its inability to work in an emergency situation, and the ability of a transformational leader to deal with leaders who are less knowledgeable of the theory.
Burns also holds fast to a hierarchy of values. He places public values at the top of his hierarchy. His values are based upon the values upheld by the signers of the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Read more: http://www.leadership-central.com/burns-transformational-leadership-theory.html#ixzz1eqRBVIOd
Read more: http://www.leadership-central.com/burns-transformational-leadership-theory.html#ixzz1eqR0CPa3
Read more: http://www.leadership-central.com/burns-transformational-leadership-theory.html#ixzz1eqQnfFz5
Burns received his bachelor's degree from Williams College and his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard, and he also attended the London School of Economics. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he is past president of the American Political Science Association and the International Society of Political Psychology.
Burns was the Democratic nominee for the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts in 1958 and was also elected a delegate to four Democratic National Conventions. Burns served in the military as combat historian in the Pacific theater during World War II; he was awarded the Bronze Star and four Battle Stars. Throughout his military adventures, Burns noticed that when leadership was mentioned, it was in terms of officers and their traits and qualities, but did not include soldiers.
Burns has advocated repeal of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution
Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-second Amendment of the United States Constitution sets a term limit for the President of the United States. The Congress passed the amendment on March 21, 1947...
to allow effective US presidents to serve three or more terms of office.
Excerpts from Burns's book, Leadership:
- Leadership over human beings is exercised when persons with certain motives and purposes mobilize, in competition or conflict with others, institutional, political, psychological, and other resources so as to arouse, engage, and satisfy the motives of followers... in order to realize goals mutually held by both leaders and followers....
- Transformational leadership occurs when one or more persons engage with others in such a way that leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality.
- That people can be lifted into their better selves is the secret of transforming leadership and the moral and practical theme of this work.
Partial List of Books
- Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox
- Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom 1940-1945, published with Harcourt, Brace, JovanovichHarcourt Trade PublishersHarcourt was a United States publishing firm with a long history of publishing fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. The company was based in San Diego, California, with an Editorial / Sales / Marketing / Rights offices in New York City and Orlando, Florida.In 2007, the U.S...
in 1970 (ISBN 0-15-602757-7). - Transforming Leadership: The Pursuit of Happiness, published with Atlantic Monthly Press in 2003 (ISBN 0-87113-866-2).
- The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America, with Susan Dunn, published with Grove PressGrove PressGrove Press is an American publishing imprint that was founded in 1951. Imprints include: Black Cat, Evergreen, Venus Library, Zebra. Barney Rosset purchased the company in 1951 and turned it into an alternative book press in the United States. The Atlantic Monthly Press, under the aegis of its...
in 2001 (ISBN 0-8021-3872-1). - Leadership, published with Harper Collins in 1978 (ISBN 0-06-010588-7).
- John Kennedy: A Political Profile
- Government by the People
- Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the Coming Crisis of the Supreme Court, published with Penguin GroupPenguin GroupThe Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
in 2009 (ISBN 1594202192) - The Workshop of Democracy published with Random House, Inc. in 1985 (ISBN 0-394-74320-2(pbk.)).