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Critical Leadership Theory

Integrating Transdisciplinary Perspectives

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Centers leadership as a social process worthy of social science examination in a transdisciplinary way

  • Provides theory and a methodology for conducting critical examinations of normative social processes

  • Encourages a practice of critical leadership that extends beyond recognition of the flaws in leadership studies

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Why Critical Theory Is Important

    • Jennifer L. S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch
    Pages 1-37
  3. Exploring Movement and Direction in Aesthetics

    • Jennifer L. S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch
    Pages 47-76
  4. Exploring Movement and Direction in Social Sciences

    • Jennifer L. S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch
    Pages 77-105
  5. Exploring Movement and Direction in Animal Science

    • Jennifer L. S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch
    Pages 107-137
  6. Exploring Movement and Direction in Engineering

    • Jennifer L. S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch
    Pages 139-165
  7. Tenets of Critical Leadership Theory and Their Implications

    • Jennifer L. S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch
    Pages 167-194
  8. Back Matter

    Pages 195-197

About this book

This book contributes five novel tenets for building a critical theory of leadership studies. Drawing from transdisciplinary insights, these tenets help shape the emerging field of inquiry. They also facilitate the examination of normative social processes that reinscribe hegemonic power relations — because much of what is accomplished in current leadership scholarship, teaching, and practice reinforces these power relations. The book begins by contrasting critical theory with positivist approaches to analyzing social phenomena, and what follows is an exploration of four broad disciplines using sub-components of leadership as an investigatory lens. The resulting five tenets are presented and discussed so that they may be picked up and used by scholars contributing to the developing field of critical leadership studies.



Authors and Affiliations

  • Arizona State University, Tempe, USA

    Jennifer L.S. Chandler

  • Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA

    Robert E. Kirsch

About the authors

Jennifer L. S. Chandler is a lecturer in the faculty of Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies at Arizona State University, USA. Her research interests include leadership and diversity challenges within science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields; organizational social norms; critical leadership; and critical Whiteness. 


Robert E. Kirsch is a lecturer in the faculty of Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies at Arizona State University, USA. He holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Critical Leadership Theory

  • Book Subtitle: Integrating Transdisciplinary Perspectives

  • Authors: Jennifer L.S. Chandler, Robert E. Kirsch

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96472-0

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and Psychology, Behavioral Science and Psychology (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-96471-3Published: 09 October 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-07198-1Published: 31 January 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-96472-0Published: 26 September 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 197

  • Number of Illustrations: 2 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Psychology, general, Administration, Organization and Leadership

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access