Department
Leadership
Date
2015
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Leadership (Ed.D.)
Type of Paper/Work
Dissertation
Advisor
Fr. Jean-Pierre Bongila
Second Advisor
Kathleen M. Boyle
Third Advisor
Thomas L. Fish
Abstract
Using qualitative narrative inquiry, this study focused on a prosopographic analysis of Lech Wałęsa and Leymah Gbowee as Nobel Peace Prize laureates who grew up under oppression, but who managed to bring amity to their worlds. Cross-examination of their stories resulted in the design of a three-phase path to becoming a leader of peaceful change. Phase One consisted of the influences of strong mothers and great mentors on the upbringing of both future leaders. Phase Two of active leadership indicated that both leaders benefitted from focus, strong faith, and community in effecting long-term peaceful change. Phase Three showed how the two leaders, now renowned international figures, continued to lead. Shoup’s prosopography of world-class leaders contributed to understanding the ethical and exemplary dimensions of leadership for peace and helped identify phases of leadership development. Greenleaf’s servant leadership revealed some of the influences that shaped those “refined products of oppression.” This study contributes to the domain of leadership development.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Wloch, Wojceiech, "How International Leaders Overcome Difficult Social Conditions: An Exploratory Study of Biography and Leadership Development" (2015). Education Doctoral Dissertations in Leadership. 111.
https://ir.stthomas.edu/caps_ed_lead_docdiss/111