MACAPADO A. MUSLIM, Ph.D.
University Professor (Ret,) &
Former President
Mindanao State University
In the upcoming May 2022 elections, I will choose candidates with significant strengths in the following six criteria of effective political leadership:
1.0 CHARACTER
1.1 Integrity or incorruptibility (based
largely on faith, aside from rule of law);
1.2 Moral stature;
1.3 Credibility; and
1.4 Capacity to inspire, influence and
transform.
2.0 COMPETENCE
2.1 Educational attainment and leadership
experience;
2.2 Capacity to grasp the domestic and
International intricacies of public
governance in the contemporary
world;
2.3 Analytical ability and practical
wisdom; and
2.4 Capacity or potential to provide
democratic, technocratic, long-term-
oriented, synergistic and strategic
leadership.
3.0 CAPACITY TO PROVIDE HEALING,
UNIFYING, ALL-INCLUSIVE, AND
CARING LEADERSHIP
3.1 Capacity to provide good governance
for all sectors, groups and
communities;
3.2 Concern for the poor and
marginalized sectors;
3.3 Emphasis on peaceful approaches to
conflicts and crucial national issues;
3.4 Capacity to engage constructively the
business and civil society sectors as
partners; and
3.5 Capacity to provide centripetal
leadership to rein in and transform
extremist elements.
4.0 POLITICAL DECISIVENESS
4.1 Capacity for autonomous or
independent decision-making
vis-a-vis particularistic interest
groups;
4.2 Capacity to assert general welfare
Imperatives vis-a-vis the
Interests of prebendalist political
allies and supporters;
4.3 Capacity for leadership in times of
crisis and emergency;
4.4 Capacity to confront, manage and
transform conflicts and challenges;
and
4.5 Capacity to enforce discipline snd
compliance, ensure rule of law (not
rule by law) and democratic
accountability, and protect human
rights.
5.0 REFORMIST ORIENTATION
5.1 Involvement in reform advocacy,
planning and implementation;
5.2 Affiliation with genuinely progressive
reform or cause-oriented groups,
organizations or political parties;
5.3 Capacity to grasp the systemic and
multidimensional nature of public
governance and its ecosystem; and
5.4 Support for urgently needed
political structural or institutional
reforms to correct some fundamental
foundational flaws of the Philippine
political system, particularly the
the need to shift from presidential
to parliamentary and from unitary to
federal systems, and the
strengthening of our electoral and
political party systems.
6.0 MULTICULTURALIST LEADERSHIP
6.1 Recognition and respect for
cultural diversity;
6.2 Capacity for effective interfaith
leadership;
6.3 Emphasis on consociational
leadership; and
6.4 Capacity to address the demands and
requirements of both national unity
and cultural diversity.
Although designed primarily for the top positons of President and Vice President, this scheme is also applicable to senatorial candidates, and to top ledrrship positions at the regional and local levels. Moreover, it can be used as a framework or guide for leadership capacity building and political career path planning and enhancement for incumbent and aspiring national, regional and local leaders.
[Comments may be sent to: mcmuslim756@gmail.com.]
Dr. Macapado Abaton Muslim obtained his Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Hawaii (as an East-West Center scholar), MPA (Management) from University of the Philippines – National College of Public Administration and Governance, and BSPA from Mindanao State University. He had served as President of the 11-campus MSU System, and retired recently as University Professor. Currently serving as Professorial Lecturer in the Dostor of Public Administration (DPA) program of MSU.
PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY 