Under what conditions do heads of governments have the flexibility to change their policies, and what is the impact of such flexibility on their behavior in negotiation and mediation processes? Leadership is viewed as an umbrella concept that involves at least four ingredients: the characteristics of the leader; the needs, images, and expectations of those led, the constituents of the leader; the nature of the relationship between the leader and those led; and the context in which the leadership is exercised. This article explores how these four aspects of leadership influence leaders' ability to change and be flexible. It also suggests the relevance of the resulting flexibility for negotiation and mediation.
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