Article by Charles Handy on how the voice of the people keeps their representatives in line in a democracy, and how this model should carry over to the management of organizations. Handy begins the article discussing how Shakespeare’s plays are now only available to a certain few, and that it was in an attempt to appeal to more people that Ian McKellen and Richard Loncraine decided to make a different version of Shakespeare’s play for film. Handy then complicates the context of the film and contemporary society, stating that modern democracies would never allow such an abuse of power as depicted in the film’s narrative, but that such abuses of power can still be featured in corporate life. He proceeds to reflect on the irony of corporate leaders who insist on the virtues of free markets and free society but still choose to run totalitarian regimes and pursue oligarchies. Handy then contends that, contrary to what Machiavelli has advocated, not all rulers are good, which justifies the establishment and practice of democracy wherein leaders change through a process by the people. He concludes his analysis arguing that, though democracy may be problematic in some respects, it is essential to the longer term growth and survival of both a nation and an organization or corporation. This is because democracy holds that those who rule are accountable to those whom they rule, rather than just to those that pay them.
Handy, Charles B Handy, Elizabeth Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Loncraine, Richard McKellen, Ian Democracy Dictatorship Totalitarianism Machiavellianism (Psychology) Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527 Oligarchy Fascism Ronald Grant Archive Accountability
Source
Article by Charles Handy on how the voice of the people keeps their representatives in line in a democracy, and how this model should carry over to the management of organizations, 1996; Charles Handy Papers; Box 20, Folder 11; 1 page
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
