Aung San Suu Kyi: a Transformational Leader and a Symbol of Hope
Aung San Suu Kyi: A Transformational Leader and A Symbol of Hope
April 2, 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) have won a landslide victory in Burma (BBC News Asia 2012). This signifies a new chapter in humanity which may improve the lives of millions of Burmese.
An Incarcerated Leader
Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) is one of the world’s greatest leaders in the struggle to fight for democracy (Ball 2004). The 1991 Nobel peace prize winner devoted her life to the freedom of the 60 million Burmese. Despite being detained by the junta for 21 years and spent 15 years under house arrest, she continues to fight for human rights and democracy.
Burma, after North Korea, is probably the most obscured state in the contemporary world (Steinberg 2010). About 40% of the national budget is spent on army, while only 1% is reserved for health and education. The average Burmese annual income is less than US$200 per capita (US Department of State 2012).
A Peaceful Warrior and A Transformation Leader
ASSK is a transformational leader who advocates a peaceful and non-confrontational approach to democracy. She exhibits key attributes of a transformational leader namely individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence (Bass and Bass 2008; Bass and Avolio 1994).
She once said, “My top priority is for people to understand that they have the power to change things themselves”. Her vision is to build a Burma that people will have the empowerment, a better quality of life and greater opportunities.
She advocates the importance of education and donated her USD1.3 million Nobel Prize money to establish a health and education trust. In her recent address to the House of Commons at Westminster Hall, she seeks foreign investment to support democratic reform process (Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2012).
As a Buddhist, ASSK draws inspirations from her religious beliefs of peaceful
April 2, 2012: Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) have won a landslide victory in Burma (BBC News Asia 2012). This signifies a new chapter in humanity which may improve the lives of millions of Burmese.
An Incarcerated Leader
Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) is one of the world’s greatest leaders in the struggle to fight for democracy (Ball 2004). The 1991 Nobel peace prize winner devoted her life to the freedom of the 60 million Burmese. Despite being detained by the junta for 21 years and spent 15 years under house arrest, she continues to fight for human rights and democracy.
Burma, after North Korea, is probably the most obscured state in the contemporary world (Steinberg 2010). About 40% of the national budget is spent on army, while only 1% is reserved for health and education. The average Burmese annual income is less than US$200 per capita (US Department of State 2012).
A Peaceful Warrior and A Transformation Leader
ASSK is a transformational leader who advocates a peaceful and non-confrontational approach to democracy. She exhibits key attributes of a transformational leader namely individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence (Bass and Bass 2008; Bass and Avolio 1994).
She once said, “My top priority is for people to understand that they have the power to change things themselves”. Her vision is to build a Burma that people will have the empowerment, a better quality of life and greater opportunities.
She advocates the importance of education and donated her USD1.3 million Nobel Prize money to establish a health and education trust. In her recent address to the House of Commons at Westminster Hall, she seeks foreign investment to support democratic reform process (Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2012).
As a Buddhist, ASSK draws inspirations from her religious beliefs of peaceful
References: Ball, H. (2004) Great Women Leaders – The Women’s Hall of Fame Series. Second Story Press. Toronto, Canada. Bass, B. M. and Bass, R. (2008). The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, and Managerial Application. 4th ed. New York Free Press Bass, B. M. and Avolio, B. J. (1994). Improving Organizational Effectiveness Through Transformational Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. BBC News Asia. (2012). Burma poll: Aung San Suu Kyi 's NLD sweeps by-elections. [online]. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17588313 [accessed 20 Jul 2012] Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2012). Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at Westminster Hall [online]. Available from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=Speech&id=778619482 [accessed 21 Jul 2012] Rueters (2010). Factbox: Facts about Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi, http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/11/10/us-Burma-suukyi-factbox-idUSTRE6A91D620101110 [accessed 23rd July 2012] Steinberg, D. I. (2010) Burma/Burma What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press. New York. The Economist (2012). Aung San Suu Kyi and the Dalai Lama. [online]. Available from http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/2012/06/aung-san-suu-kyi-and-dalai-lama [accessed 20 July 2012] U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action. Burma 12/07 [Online]. Available from http://www.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/burma/88022.htm [accessed 22 Jul 2012]