1st Edition
An Historical Assessment of Leadership in Turbulent Times Lessons Learned from Clovis I, King of the Franks
This unique book provides lessons on how to affect good leadership in turbulent times by taking a historical lens and examining the life and impact of Clovis I, King of the Franks. Through the exploration of how this individual managed the unstable times where so many others had failed, the book provides an original take on leadership, focusing on the ways we can learn from and be inspired by his history.
This book offers an insightful and detailed case study of Clovis I, as it explores his struggles and triumphs in the face of turbulent times. The book presents implications for students of leadership today and examines why the story of Clovis I reveals the salience of leadership during times of uncertainty and change. Ultimately, the author foresees the rise of myriad leaders trying to manage the upheaval in the twenty-first century, with the likelihood that somebody like Clovis I will emerge, pursuing ambition and re-ordering civilization on a colossal scale, leaving a legacy that will endure for a further thousand years.
This book will be of interest to leadership and history scholars and advanced students in Leadership studies.
Introduction
The fabled vase of Soissons
1. About the leadership of Clovis, King of the Franks
2. The charisma of Clovis
3. Beneath the layer of chieftains and kings
4. Interpreting the past
5. Possible implications for the twenty-first century
Appendix 1. Map
Appendix 2. Timeline
Biography
Nathan W. Harter has taught Leadership Studies since 1989, when he began at Purdue University in the state on Indiana, USA. Today, he serves at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. He is the author of several books, numerous articles and book chapters on leadership.
"Nathan Harter delivers a historical tour de force—balancing both the particulars and the universals of the fourth century. This book is an answer to the question: how should Leadership orient itself towards history? Harter suggests that an answer lies in paying attention to particular liminal moments where actors must make decisions in the midst of competing religious and political claims. He convincingly shows that Clovis, the work’s centerpiece, found himself in a such a liminal state of affairs and successfully balanced, reconciled, and unified the region. Ultimately, leaders like Clovis harbor potential for good or evil. Thus, Harter asks us to consider the promises and perils of ambitious leaders who, in times of enormous change, propose to remake the world."
- Moriah Poliakoff, PhD Student of Philosophy at Texas A&M University, USA
