Robert Mugabe - Struggle, power and manipulation

A leadership case

Essay from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Africa, grade: 19 von 20 Punkten, Stockholm School of Economics (Stockholm School of Economics), language: English, abstract: Current developments in Zimbabwe indicate that the long lasting downturn may come to a halt, raising new hope for a turnaround. And yet, the conflict is far from being solved. The presidential elections held in 2008 are known to have been manipulated to a decisive extent. Whereas the issue has been neglected for a long time, one question is now being asked with increasing frequency: Where did it all go wrong? This paper takes an approach from leadership theory. Looking at Robert Mugabe in the role of a social as well as political leader, it is analyzed which impact his actions had on Zimbabwe as a country and its citizens as individuals. Firstly, it is to be analyzed how Mugabe came to power. Thereafter the focus will shift onto his first years in office and his establishment as a political leader. Subsequently his leadership role during the country´s economic and social collapse will be analyzed critically before the last section will provide recapitulatory remarks and outlooks into the future of Zimbabwe and its leadership.