The Emergence of Leadership within Networks of Local Development Actors

Abstract

Networks of local development actors are subject to several dynamics. One of them, the emergence of leadership, highlights mechanisms articulating both the structure and the individual actor. Leadership is not just an individual attribute, but also a capital in a network. Leadership cannot emerge ex nihilo; it requires a number of interpersonal interactions. This is how leadership is structuring, while starting a virtuous circle. It will be all the more underlined as some leaders are themselves actors in the emergence of leadership. They will be the instigators of various types of interactions in their networks. Finally they embody various roles, which will impact the level of emergence of leadership.