Jacinda Ardern: Between admiration and rejection - a review

In her book, Jacinda Ardern reflects on challenges as Prime Minister of New Zealand and her empathetic leadership style.
In her book, Jacinda Ardern reflects on challenges as Prime Minister of New Zealand and her empathetic leadership style. (Symbolbild/NAG)

Jacinda Ardern: Between admiration and rejection - a review

Christchurch, Neuseeland - Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, reflected the turbulent end of her political career in her recently published memoir "A Different Kind of Power". This publication not only takes a look at her time at the top, but also illuminates the challenges that she had to manage. Ardern was confronted at an airport in 2022 by a woman who reproached her, which illustrates the decreasing support for her political agenda.

In the last few years of her term, the Labor Party, to which it belonged, experienced a dramatic decline in popularity. This was largely influenced by economic concerns, social inequality and massive protests against their Corona policy. In this context, Ardern surprisingly resigned in January 2023, a decision that was also motivated by personal health, which later turned out to be a false alarm. The resignation led to a lost vote of over 670,000 in the 2023 elections compared to 2020.

leadership style and empathy

Arden was recognized internationally for her empathetic leadership style. She pleaded for a form of leadership that combines empathy, pragmatism and vulnerability. In a conversation with the Spiegel she emphasizes that sensitivity and the ability to emotion are not weaknesses, but strengths. Her leadership style is in a strong contrast to populist and authoritarian leaders who often rely on fear and discord.

After the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch in 2019, she showed special solidarity with the Muslim community and shaped the memorable sentence "They are us". These words are a strong example of your approach to promote empathy as the basis for national unity.

criticism and review

Nevertheless, there was also criticism of Ardern's Corona policy, which caused division among the population, despite the supposed rescue of many lives through strict measures. Protests against their politics and the occupation of the parliamentary site in Wellington led to further resentment. Critics accused her of refusing the dialogue with the protesters.

In her book, there is no critical examination of controversial reform projects, which interpret some analysts as an inadequate reflection of their term. At the same time, it is seen as a model for modern leadership, especially at a time when many leaders accept either authoritarian or populist trains. Ardern therefore sees herself not only as a political actor, but also as a pioneer for an employee -oriented leadership style in which the focus is on the well -being of people and effective cooperation.

In the coming months, ARDERN will pass on her experience as a guest scientist at various elite universities and will therefore continue to deal with management topics and the challenges of modern society. Your career remains an exciting example of the necessary change in political and social management.

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OrtChristchurch, Neuseeland
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