Leadership in Local Politics of Cambodia: A Study of ... - CDRI
Leadership in Local Politics of Cambodia: A Study of ... - CDRI
Leadership in Local Politics of Cambodia: A Study of ... - CDRI
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Chapter 4:<br />
WHAT MAKES A LOCAL LEADER?<br />
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elements constitut<strong>in</strong>g their legitimacy and authority: characteristics (education, experience,<br />
age and sex), networks and motivation. The chapter also blends relevant gender aspects <strong>in</strong>to<br />
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4.1. Villagers’ Attitudes toward Leaders<br />
The citizen survey on leadership <strong>in</strong> the three communes <strong>in</strong>dicates that the leaders villagers most<br />
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chiefs and councillors, ���������(elders) and achar, economic-political leaders and leaders<br />
from the development and knowledge doma<strong>in</strong>. The survey found that different attitudes to<br />
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simply to <strong>in</strong>dicate the vary<strong>in</strong>g perceptions depend<strong>in</strong>g on economic and social status, education<br />
and ethnicity. It should be noted, however, that there may be other correlations not found <strong>in</strong><br />
this study—for example, <strong>in</strong> the age <strong>of</strong> respondents. For this study, it was not possible to group<br />
and analyse different attitudes towards local leadership by age. For each village, we selected<br />
roughly 15 percent <strong>of</strong> total households as respondents. Selection was targeted <strong>in</strong> order to ga<strong>in</strong><br />
responses across a range <strong>of</strong> selected categories, namely economic and social status, education<br />
(which may be related to economic and social status) and ethnicity. We were unable to obta<strong>in</strong><br />
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<strong>of</strong> this research.<br />
Perceptions <strong>of</strong> Educated and Better Off Families<br />
We surveyed a number <strong>of</strong> respondents from the well-educated and well-<strong>of</strong>f families <strong>in</strong> each<br />
commune. They tended to be pr<strong>of</strong>essionals such as teachers or owners <strong>of</strong> small bus<strong>in</strong>esses such<br />
as distilleries and grocery stores. They were well <strong>in</strong>formed and curious about local politics.<br />
They held clear op<strong>in</strong>ions about local leaders, which they were happy to share with us.<br />
The village chief is not capable and educated enough to carry out his duties effectively<br />
and impartially; he cannot manage even to measure correctly the land surface, so how<br />
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trust him. (Villager A15, commune A, response to survey, 21/5/2008)<br />
The commune chief is good but the divergence <strong>of</strong> ideas and fragmentation with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
multi-party system does not allow her to work effectively. Also I notice that she gets<br />
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(Villager A20, commune A, response to survey, 21/5/2008)<br />
The comments <strong>of</strong> these people suggested that they were observant, did not take the village/<br />
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<strong>CDRI</strong><br />
35