Hazza Abu Sitta

1008124174

Written Assignment 2: Fall Applied Reading Brief

07/12/2022

POL 200 Fall 2022

The challenging yet crucial task of assessing the measure of a leader can be simplified by
identifying the purpose of leadership. Plato maintains that a leader’s fundamental purpose should
be to promote the common good (Takala, 1998 792). Therefore, a leader’s capacity to promote
the common good can be used to measure leadership efficiency. Plato argues that philosophers
are most suitable to rule as they know what is in the best interest of the state and have the
strength required to act on such knowledge (Takala, 1998 792). We can identify the
characteristics of the “philosopher-kings” by analyzing the education system that Plato proposes
to the philosopher-kings who are the ruling class in Plato’s ideal state. Developing our
understanding of Plato’s conception of just leadership is significant as it allows us to assess the
actions of contemporary leaders through the lens of Plato in the context of civic leadership. For
example, using Plato’s argument of the just leader we can assess the various actions of world
leaders made in response to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, I will begin this
paper by analyzing Plato’s description of just leadership in the ideal state. Then, I will apply
Plato’s conception of civic leadership to Vladimir Putin’s actions during Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine. I conclude that Plato would argue that Putin’s actions do not reflect the actions of a
good leader as they are obstructed by his ignorance of what is good and his desire for power.
In the republic, Plato discusses the nature of justice by developing an ideal state that
metaphorically captures the true meaning of justice (Takala, 1998 790). Plato divides the ideal
state into three hierarchal categories. Such division in the ideal state is the principle that indicates
the nature of justice, as Plato argues that a just civilization is one in which order and harmony are
upheld by ensuring that citizens carry out the tasks for which they are best suited for (Takala,
1998 791). Plato’s ideal city consists of three classes, the ruling class, the guardian class, and the
producer class (Takala, 1998 791). Plato’s convictions on leadership can be found in his
description of the ruling class. Plato claims that individuals whose souls are inadequately ordered
and governed by reason cannot lead as they are susceptible to using that power in a tyrannical
manner that benefits their appetitive desires (Williamson, 2008 402). Plato argues that the
‘philosopher-kings” are naturally fit to rule as they are not directed by pleasure or power. The
philosopher-kings lack of attraction to power and ability to maintain rational control over their
desires allows them to prevent their personal desires from disturbing the common good
(Williamson, 2008 402). In his description of the suitable leader that is to rule the just city, Plato
fuses the individual's capacity to obtain knowledge with their moral character (Williamson, 2008
402). Meaning that what we believe is dependent on our character, therefore, a leader whose
worldview has been distorted by appetitive desires lacks sufficient knowledge of reality to rule
(Williamson, 2008 402). Furthermore, philosophers are most fit to rule because they prefer not to
rule even while they rule. However, they are compelled to rule because their understanding of
justice compels them to obey the laws which force them to rule (Brown, 2008). Such a lack of
desire for power is what enables the philosopher-kings to unselfishly devote themselves to the
common good.
To understand the character of a good leader we must look at Plato’s education system
for the philosopher class as education is the central mechanism by which the character-shaping
process occurs in the polis (Williamson, 2008 403). The education proposed to philosophers is
intended to develop their souls in a rational manner (Williamson, 2008 403). Their education
consists of a series of tests meant to identify the individuals who are suited to serve the common
good. From the structure of their education, we can infer that Plato believes that just leadership
must not only benefit the leaders, but it must also benefit those who are led (Williamson, 2008
403). Therefore, the aim of just leadership must be for the good of the whole, and not solely for
the good of the leaders (Williamson, 2008 403). Leadership in this sense is a service to one’s
community. Good leadership is what advances the whole and the interests of the population
(Williamson, 2008 403). We can conclude that Plato believes that philosophers are ideal rulers
for two main reasons. Firstly, they know what is good. Second, they have no desire to rule
(Brown, 2008).
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a war in Ukraine. To assess Putin’s leadership
during the invasion we must first understand the purpose of the invasion. Putin claims that he
invaded Ukraine with the aim of mitigating NATO’s expansion into Ukraine and to protect the
“Russians from genocide” in Eastern Ukraine. While these may truly be some of the reasons for
Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, some have speculated that Putin was also interested in
replacing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with someone who would be under Russia’s
control (Shuhei, 2022 57). Russi wants to regain its sphere of influence in eastern Europe, which
is why Putin believes Zelensky’s administration to be a threat, as it is trying to move away from
Russia and ally itself with western countries (Shuhei, 2022 57). During its invasion, Russia
demanded NATO to assure its non-expansion in a legally binding manner (Shuhei, 2022 57).
Russia also demanded the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, by conducting a “special military
operation” to protect the Russian population in Ukraine from genocide (Shuhei, 2022 57). While
these demands seem to be in the interest of the Russian population, the invasion of Ukraine
would not be in Russia’s interests as it would be counterproductive (Shuhei, 2022 65). Putin
argued that Ukraine joining NATO was a matter of time. However, it was unlikely for Nato to let
Ukraine join, due to the war in eastern Ukraine because NATO will not accept Ukraine while
there is an armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine (Shuhei, 2022 65). Therefore, Russia did not need
to have invaded Ukraine to prevent it from joining NATO. Russia’s argument that the purpose of
the invasion is to prevent a Russian genocide from occurring in Ukraine is also false because
around 14,000 people were killed in the eastern Ukraine conflict, however, this was largely the
outcome of the conflict between Ukrainian armed forces and Russia backed separatists and not
caused by genocide (Shuhei, 2022 67). Therefore, Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine is not in alignment with its expressed goals of the“special military operation.” (Shuhei,
2022 67). The true aims of the invasion may be found in the essay published by Putin in July
2021. The essay is titled “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” and it provides an
overview of the “historical unity between Russia and Ukraine” (Shuhei, 2022 68). In the essay,
Putin denies the existence of Ukraine” and argues that Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians are
one people united in heritage and history (Shuhei, 2022 69). In the essay he argues that the
Ukrainian government, influenced by Western states, has declined to commit to discussions with
Russia, Causing the Suffering of Ukrainian citizens (Shuhei, 2022 69).
Plato would argue that Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine does not reflect the behavior of
a good leader because it violates the two main qualities that make a good leader. Firstly, Plato
would argue that Putin’s actions are not in alignment with good leadership because they indicate
that Putin does not have sufficient knowledge of the good. Plato argues that philosophers are
good leaders because they know what is good and they have the strength to act on the
knowledge. To rule a just city, leaders must have the right kind of knowledge (Williamson, 2008
402). People who lack true knowledge of the good are subject to desire-induced fantasies that
obscure the vision of individuals without well-ordered souls (Williamson, 2008 402). Plato
would argue that Putin does not have sufficient knowledge of what is good because his invasion
of Ukraine did not serve the common good and it did not serve to work in favor of the Russian
population. While he declared that the invasion was a rational decision aimed at serving the
interest of the Russian population, as previously stated the true purpose of the invasion may have
been to regain influence over Ukraine. Therefore, Plato would argue that Putin’s capacity for
reasoning has been obscure by his appetitive desire for power. Such desire has caused Putin to
place his interests over the interests of the state. This does not reflect Plato’s description of a just
leader because Plato argues that the philosopher-kings must sacrifice their interests to serve the
common good. The philosophers' ability to sacrifice their interests for the common good is
rooted in their understanding of what is good for the whole. The second quality that makes a
good leader is a lack of interest in power. Plato argues that the philosopher-kings are suitable for
ruling because they have no interest to rule. However, in the ideal city, they are compelled to rule
by the laws (Brown 2008). Putin’s invasion was aimed at regaining Russian influence over
Ukraine. Therefore, we can infer that Putin is interested in power as he invaded Ukraine to
maximize his desire for power. As a result, Plato would argue that Putin is not a good leader
because his desire for power disrupts his capacity to promote the common good. This is evident
in Putin’s attempt at increasing his political power by invading Ukraine as it has led multiple
states to place sanctions on Russia, which has harmed the quality of life of the Russian
population.
In conclusion, Plato would argue that Putin’s actions do not reflect the actions of a good leader
as they are distorted by his ignorance of what is good for the Russian population and his craving
for power. For Plato, good leadership should be aimed at promoting the interest of the whole
rather than for the leader. In the republic, the ruling class of the ideal city consists of
philosopher-kings. Plato argues that Philosophers are suitable rulers in the ideal city for two
main reasons. First, they have an adequate understanding of what is good, and the ability to act
on that knowledge. Second, they lack the desire for power. In the context of Russia’s recent
invasion of Ukraine, Plato would argue that Putin does not meet the two requirements. Firstly,
Putin fails to show a lack of interest in power as the fundamental aim of the invasion is to regain
power over Ukraine. This is evident in Putin’s recently published essay titled “On the Historical
Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” in which he called for the unification of Russia and Ukraine.
Second, Plato would argue that such desire for power has distorted Putin’s perception of what is
good. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has been directed by his appetitive desire for power,
Therefore, his conception of what is good has been corrupted. As a result, the war efforts made
by Russia have proven to be counterproductive and have diminished the quality of life of the
Russian population.

Bibliography

Takala, T. 1998. “Plato on Leadership.” Journal of Business Ethics 17 (7): 785–98.

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005789531144.
 Shuhei, Mizoguchi. 2022. “Putin’s Imperial Nationalism and Obsession with Ukraine.”
Asia-Pacific Review 29 (2): 56–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/13439006.2022.2105527.

Williamson, Thad. 2008. “The Good Society and the Good Soul: Plato’s Republic on
Leadership.” The Leadership Quarterly 19 (4): 397–408.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2008.05.006.

Brown, Eric. "Plato's Ethics and Politics in the Republic." (2008).