Xenophon'S (The Education of Cyrus) and Ideal Leadership: Lessons for Modern Public Administration

Abstract

This article addresses exceptional qualities for ideal leadership in public service and administration. It argues that discussions of leadership and civic virtue should include the work of Xenophon, the Greek philosopher, on public education for public service. A student of Socrates, Xenophon (430-355 BC) found personal fulfillment and professional expertise with Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire. His writings provide a theoretical side of Socrates as well as a practical view of an effective leadership style found in Ancient Persia. While Plato wrote on an ideal government led by a philosopher, Xenophon served as a leader himself and then wrote about the exceptional qualities of leadership he admired in Cyrus the Great. His key work, Cyropaedia(Education of Cyrus) explains the virtues and characteristics of an ideal leader. Education, equality, consensus, justice, and service to state as well as to the broad-based public are the qualities embodied in Cyrus the Great. These values have clear implications for modern public administration. A great body of research has been developed over the years on leadership but perhaps what public leaders need most can be found in the writings of a simple, practical, and virtuous individual, Xenophon who lived 2400 years ago and presented the exceptional characteristics of ideal leadership in Cyrus of Persia.