Leadership Personality in Foreign Policy Behavior: An Analysis of Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli
Leadership Personality and Foreign Policy Behavior
Keywords:
John Magufuli, Foreign Policy, Leadership Personality, Human BehaviorAbstract
This study analyzed the influence of the leadership personality of His Excellency President John Magufuli in relation to the foreign policy behavior of Tanzania during his tenure as president (2015-2021. It was guided by two theories; Leadership personality theory and Rational Choice theory. The study employed a qualitative research approach with a case study design based on an individual, and informed by the interpretivism philosophy. It was found that the leadership personality of President Magufuli adhered to the existing foreign policy behavior through influencing more cooperation, good neighborliness, African unity and self-reliance. Also, the study found that President Magufuli had a power-based approach as well as the delegation approach in carrying the country’s foreign policy. Diversion from the principle of collective efforts in addressing the global challenges the study found that during Magufuli Tanzania took its own stance in some matters that were contrary to international protocols. President Magufuli was a decision maker, hard worker, disciplined, time manager and results-based leader who would do whatever it takes to achieve his interests and those of the government he was leading. It is concluded that Magufuli was a religious and moral conservative who believed on the principles of Christianity and African traditions since his childhood, his school life, his service in the National Service and his years in the government administration.
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Data used for this research is available upon a genuine request from the corresponding authour
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