Guest Blogger: Laura Herbers

What makes a leader? According to Aristotle in his work Politics, Book 4, the best kind of class to lead the government is the middle class. This being because, to his claim, the upper and lower classes will be unwilling to serve one another because they mistrust each other. Therefore, the middle class is being called the arbiter by Aristotle, and hence, the one who is trusted. When speaking not necessarily of classes, but leaders, the message established by Aristotle holds true, but in different form. Those who actively seek out leadership, making claims that they are the best for the job and are superior to others, while it may seem that this confidence is something to be desired, this attitude is similar to that of the upper class as written by Aristotle. He claims that a country ruled by an upper class will assume forms similar to that of an oligarchy. Time has tested that those who assume a leadership position, but do it with a big head and overconfident attitude, will ultimately fail. An example of this being, Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Hitler and the Aryan race being the oligarchs. Though at first well received and trusted in, Germany obviously fell, and Hitler came down literally and figuratively through self destruction. The lower class will symbolize those who both fear and dislike power. These type of people will clearly not be adept to power since the pure meekness of their personalities will not allow them to properly lead a group. So this leaves the middle class, or in the case of individuals, a person who neither loves nor fears power. Someone doesn’t truly become a leader simply because they are thrown into a position of leadership, but they have to be accepted by those around them. Those who do not seek leadership, but also do not run away from it, will be the most likely to be appreciated and admired by others because they will not feel annoyed and egos, but will also not look down upon someone who they believe isn’t strong enough to lead. The middle of the road leaders clearly have been and are the most successful because they will be able to think more objectively and are in a far better position to be naturally adept to a leadership position. Aristotle’s advice for leadership, holding true for social/economic classes, also hold true for individuals who are considered to be a leader.