THE QUESTION
The rage of followers
Opposition protests against Kyrgystan's government today, like the protests in Iran late last year, demonstrate the power of citizens to challenge and even overthrow their political leaders. How can leaders recognize the signs of growing rage among followers? In the age of YouTube and Twitter, do citizens and followers have more power to challenge leaders?
Posted by Steve Pearlstein and Raju Narisetti on April 8, 2010 6:08 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Hell bent on chasing them down
The best-laid plans of leaders are vulnerable as never before to followers with their own agendas and the determination and drive to get their way.
Posted by Barbara Kellerman, on April 9, 2010 11:39 AM
Undoing our conventional wisdom
Oppressed people overthrew bad leaders long before Twitter, but haven't done so a lot more since its advent.
Posted by Ken Adelman, on April 8, 2010 12:35 PM
More honest than ever
A population with the power of instant knowledge is a force to be heard and reckoned with.
Posted by West Point Cadets, on April 8, 2010 11:51 AM
Explosive but not spontaneous
By allowing people to invest in a common cause, leaders display their recognition of their follower's power and prevent the seeds of rage from sprouting.
Posted by Coro Fellows, on April 8, 2010 7:24 AM
Irony of opposition leaders
Opposition leaders come to power because they listen to their followers -- but too often, once they get into power, they become the un-listening autocrats they overthrew.
Posted by Scott DeRue, on April 8, 2010 6:27 AM
