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Power Consolidation in Leadership Change Contexts: A Social Identity Perspective

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How Power Changes Hands

Part of the book series: Understanding Governance series ((TRG))

Abstract

Whether or not Zoe’s reaction epitomized the mood of the British nation on the 27 June 2007 is an empirical question.2 Even in the absence of such extreme reactions from the general public, however, there was little doubt that Gordon Brown’s task in succeeding Tony Blair was a difficult one. About the same time in Australia, after a decade as Treasurer and quite a few years of harbouring hopes of becoming the next Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister, it was becoming clear that Peter Costello’s chances of succeeding John Howard were rather slim. Fast-forward to early 2008 and the morning of the apology to Indigenous Australians, Costello may have counted himself a lucky man.

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© 2011 Emina Subašić and Katherine J. Reynolds

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Subašić, E., Reynolds, K.J. (2011). Power Consolidation in Leadership Change Contexts: A Social Identity Perspective. In: Hart, P., Uhr, J. (eds) How Power Changes Hands. Understanding Governance series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230306431_10

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