A novel view on political leadership in turbulent times

Building on the success of the Section organized by the Standing Group on Elites and Political Leadership at ECPR 2024 in Dublin, we propose to examine the evolving nature of political leadership and elites in an era of declining institutional trust, growing populist movements, and conflictual international relations. We aim to expand research and collaboration through a series of Panels that address both traditional and emerging challenges in elite and leadership studies. The Standing Group proposes to discuss several crucial topics during the conference: Elite political communication in the age of social media and disinformation; the tension between judicial institutions and political elites amid growing institutional skepticism; the transformation of ministerial elites' roles in response to populist pressures and growing public desire for technocratic governance; the congruence between the elites and the public opinion attitudes towards democratic representation; elite careers and legitimacy in multilevel governance systems; the increasingly contentious nature of elite-mass relations; theoretical developments in leadership studies focusing on trust restoration; and leadership approaches during multiple, overlapping crises. Some of these Panel topics (e.g., multilevel careers, judicial-political elite relations) build upon existing research streams while incorporating new dimensions of public trust and legitimacy. Others reflect emerging challenges faced by political elites, such as the rise of anti-establishment movements and the erosion of traditional authority structures amid violent conflicts. This section serves multiple purposes by combining ongoing longitudinal research while addressing novel and urgent questions about elite adaptation to populist pressures, declining trust, and institutional legitimacy challenges. This approach aims to attract elite scholars and researchers studying the transformation of political leadership in an age of growing skepticism toward established political institutions. The Section particularly welcomes contributions examining how political elites respond to, resist, or adapt to populist challenges, attempt to rebuild trust in democratic institutions, and how traditional leadership models are being reformed or replaced in response to contemporary political dynamics. This broader scope reflects the need to understand continuity and change in political leadership during significant democratic stress. Proposed panels: 1. Technocratic governance in Europe and beyond (chair: Elena Semenova) 2. Theoretical approaches toward political leadership (chairs: Körösényi András and Luca Kristoff) 3. The revolving door between political and economic elites across space and time (Chair: Despina Alexiadou) 4. Changing attitudes toward democratic representation (chair: Luca Verzichelli) 5. Gender and political elites (Chair: Giulia Venturini) 6. Political communication in times of crisis (Chair: Chris Butler) 7. Parliamentary elites (Chair: Carles Pamies) 8. Can Social-democratic elites (and parties) appeal to the working class? (Chair: Nikos Marantzidis) 9. Multi-level careers (chair: TBA