The Future, Democracy and Leadership
1 May 2004
With SunROC engaging consultants to develop a regional economic
plan, Maroochy Shire Council releasing its 2025 summit results, the
BHERT Conference considering the business-higher education future,
and papers on strategic directions and student fees being prepared
for discussion by the University Council, not to mention the stream
of people who want to discuss developments in the area of the
University, my mind this week has been very much on the future.
In my quieter moments I've also been thinking about related
ideas on how much the future of the Coast is going to depend on how
we resolve our views about democracy.
Obliquely, the issue was put into stark relief at the weekend.
My 8-year-old daughter insists on watching 'American Idol', and I
get drawn in. Regular watchers will know that there are three
outstanding female, black 'divas' in the competition. Last weekend,
after America-wide popular voting, all very democratic, the best
three ended up in the lowest group and one of them was voted out of
the competition. Although I know as little as possible about these
competitions, it was obvious in our household that there had been a
major miscarriage of justice if 'talent' was the major criterion.
Something went wrong, that didn't place America, the democratic
land of the free, and of equality, in a very good light. There were
obviously other dynamics at work.
In a similar light, it seemed to me, we, as a region, as shires,
as a university have to be very careful in how we handle judgments
in our spheres of influence at this crucially important time, and
what criteria we are really using to determine our future.
How do we balance democracy and leadership? It seems to be a
constant source of tension, regularly reflected in letters to the
editor in the Sunshine Coast Daily.
For example, some informed people clearly want a united region,
but its achievement will require inspired and courageous
leadership, because most people are confused about the consequences
of that proposal which is not fully understood, and they fear will
disenfranchise them.
In so many analyses of the Sunshine Coast the emphases are on
the present and the popular following democratic input.
Plato was a sceptic about democracy '…a charming form of
government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of
equality to equals and unequals alike.'
The American constitution is less sceptical and is based on an
inherent belief, inspirational in its scope and emotional charge,
in equality. But Iraq, 'American Idol' and other actions suggest
that something other than ideals are driving American
democracy.
The inspiration for the creation of Western Christian society
was Christ, but I suspect if he had relied on a popular survey, we
may arguably not have ended up with the compassionate societies we
now have. He exercised his leadership to influence democratic
beliefs.
But then, so of course did Hitler, and there lies the dilemma.
Can leaders really be trusted to lead or will their power
automatically corrupt them?
There are huge decisions to be made about the future of the
Sunshine Coast. The deliberations are already under way. How we
resolve issues of leadership and democracy, popularly voted
politicians and professional trained staff, decision-making and
potential conflicts of interest will be a continuation of a process
we have seen played out on the Coast for many years. But growth is
accelerating, decisions are becoming more urgent, the clock is
ticking on the quality of life and regional planning. I've got a
feeling we need some leadership based on a vision about what we
want the Coast to be, and just a little less popular sampling and
surveying as an end in itself.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice Chancellor of the University
of the Sunshine Coast