Steven Joyce: The Chanakya of the National Party eyes to be king himself
The National Party leadership race is not only getting crowded but also messier, with the latest inclusion of Steven Joyce – the Chanakya of the Party- who is aspiring to be a King himself.
Chanakya or Kautilya was India’s greatest teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor of the 4th century BC, much before the advent of Machiavelli – the fifteenth-century Italian diplomat - who is regarded as the father of modern political science in the global west.
Undoubtedly, Steven Joyce has been the key strategist of the National Party leading it through last five general election campaigns as campaign chair.
However, some may argue that his [in]famous calling of “$11.7 billion hole in the Labour Party’s fiscal plan,” was more Machiavellian than in the league of Chanakya’s tactic.
Regardless, the point being made here is that a kingmaker is aspiring to become a king himself.
In the game of politics, seldom does a strategist or tactician aspires to become a King himself, as the two roles despite enjoying somewhat similar leverage and political power, require different skill-set and persona that goes with those respective positions.
The students of politics would agree that there is a fine line between a strategist and a leader, which is not easily abridged in real-world politics.
In that respect, Steven Joyce has launched himself into an uphill task, despite the encouragement he says he is receiving to stand for this role from inside and outside parliament.
By no means, it implies that the task is insurmountable, instead just to reiterate that not many master strategists have successfully transformed themselves from the guise of a strategist to the persona of a leader in the past.
The Party caucus will have an understanding of this basic fact of politics when they consider Mr Joyce’s candidature for the Party leadership.
Moreover, Mr Joyce’s success as campaign chair of National Party was consequent of two important factors – the presence of a highly popular leader like John Key and a remarkable absence of a popular leader in the opposition camp.
Come 2020 elections, Mr Joyce will be without both of these decisive factors which had contributed to his success as a master strategist for the Party in last nine years.
In Jacinda Ardern, the Party would have a formidable and highly popular opponent leader, and it’s not sure that Mr Joyce would be able to step in the shoes of John Key or Bill English for that matter to become popular himself ahead of 2020 elections.
Devoid of two most decisive factors that have shaped Mr Joyce’s personal success in the Party and politics so far, it is not clear if he can reverse the fortune of the National Party, or at best stem the tide of the rise and rise of Jacinda Ardern.
Indeed, with National Party leadership race becoming crowded and messier, some behind the scene management of personal ambitions will be in the order, which would ideally require master strategists to remain in the background and not jump out in the open.
The National Party leadership race is not only getting crowded but also messier, with the latest inclusion of Steven Joyce – the Chanakya of the Party- who is aspiring to be a King himself.
Chanakya or Kautilya was India’s greatest teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor of the...
The National Party leadership race is not only getting crowded but also messier, with the latest inclusion of Steven Joyce – the Chanakya of the Party- who is aspiring to be a King himself.
Chanakya or Kautilya was India’s greatest teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor of the 4th century BC, much before the advent of Machiavelli – the fifteenth-century Italian diplomat - who is regarded as the father of modern political science in the global west.
Undoubtedly, Steven Joyce has been the key strategist of the National Party leading it through last five general election campaigns as campaign chair.
However, some may argue that his [in]famous calling of “$11.7 billion hole in the Labour Party’s fiscal plan,” was more Machiavellian than in the league of Chanakya’s tactic.
Regardless, the point being made here is that a kingmaker is aspiring to become a king himself.
In the game of politics, seldom does a strategist or tactician aspires to become a King himself, as the two roles despite enjoying somewhat similar leverage and political power, require different skill-set and persona that goes with those respective positions.
The students of politics would agree that there is a fine line between a strategist and a leader, which is not easily abridged in real-world politics.
In that respect, Steven Joyce has launched himself into an uphill task, despite the encouragement he says he is receiving to stand for this role from inside and outside parliament.
By no means, it implies that the task is insurmountable, instead just to reiterate that not many master strategists have successfully transformed themselves from the guise of a strategist to the persona of a leader in the past.
The Party caucus will have an understanding of this basic fact of politics when they consider Mr Joyce’s candidature for the Party leadership.
Moreover, Mr Joyce’s success as campaign chair of National Party was consequent of two important factors – the presence of a highly popular leader like John Key and a remarkable absence of a popular leader in the opposition camp.
Come 2020 elections, Mr Joyce will be without both of these decisive factors which had contributed to his success as a master strategist for the Party in last nine years.
In Jacinda Ardern, the Party would have a formidable and highly popular opponent leader, and it’s not sure that Mr Joyce would be able to step in the shoes of John Key or Bill English for that matter to become popular himself ahead of 2020 elections.
Devoid of two most decisive factors that have shaped Mr Joyce’s personal success in the Party and politics so far, it is not clear if he can reverse the fortune of the National Party, or at best stem the tide of the rise and rise of Jacinda Ardern.
Indeed, with National Party leadership race becoming crowded and messier, some behind the scene management of personal ambitions will be in the order, which would ideally require master strategists to remain in the background and not jump out in the open.
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