Is Tryon correct in believing that most people will follow strength?

The authors write, "Tryon believes that in the end, most people will follow strength." Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

Yes, I think people will follow the path of a strong leader if their goals align.

Regrettably, many will follow a strong leader without question if they are deluded, or starstruck, or hear what they want to hear, or feel marginalized, until they have no voice or choice because they’ve given that strong leader more power than can be controlled. Consider that people willingly followed Hitler, Kings into the crusades, Stalin, Cromwell, Peron, Castro, Jim Jones, David Koresh, Mao, Ho Chih Minh, the most recent former President. Power is an aphrodisiac. Strength leads.

Holland and Vivianh both noted how strong leaders are followed when peoples’ beliefs and goals align with the leader. Vivianh listed several strong leaders who were cruel, conniving and who wreaked havoc throughout history. Her list made me think about how those types of leaders gain traction by conniving and using coercion and manipulation. Other strong leaders such as Colin Powell (a situational leader) who considered a run for the Presidency, did not gain a wider sphere of influence and rise to power.

This makes me wonder whether we generally fail to critically think about what the minimum required skills of a great leader are and to assess whether those skills outweigh the negative skills/beliefs and values. For example, Washington was a great leader in many respects. Yet he continued to use slaves on his plantation. He used slaves on his plantation and did not deeply reflect on or question this practice until he was exposed to the atrocities of slavery by those opposed to it (i.e. John Adams and Benjamin Rusk).

Yes and no. People want to know that they will be taken care of and fairly in the end. If the side with strength seems to give them what they want, then they will follow strength. But sometimes people really do want what is good for everyone and the underdog wins here. Then there's money, people can be bribed to do just about anything.

I agree with Vivianh. Look how many people have blindly followed a recent president in spite of all his lies and unethical behavior. But they perceive him to be strong. How wrong they are.

I think people do follow strong leaders. They want someone who leads and follows through on decisions, rather than someone who is can't make a decision. Sometimes choices need to be made and they aren't always easy ones, but strong leaders tend to excel in times like those.

Many people will follow a strong leader, especially during frightening times. Adolph, Benito, Pol Pot for example. Their own fear of being on the wrong side may propel many people to choose the strongest leader. However, there are many people who will follow a strong leader who reflects their own values. Which leader gathers the most people - history seems to point to the strongest leader in spite of their values. I believe fear it the strongest emotion involved.

I find, especially in more recent years that people want to be behind the winner. I guess it gives them a greater sense of power. Two books pertaining to this I have read this past year are "Jesus and John Wayne" and "Strong Men" covering autocratic, dictators on the world stage since the time of Mussolini.

Valeriei. “Strong Men” sounds interesting. Do you recall the author’s name?

Cathyt. I think you may be correct about fear being a strong emotion that motivates people to follow someone in a leadership role, especially in situations when people feel their life is deadly tedious or they feel threatened about loosing something (i.e. their job, money, etc.). Generally, it seems that people who fall into this category fail to think ethically. I think people follow leaders of strength in critical times when those leaders speak with clarity, while showing support and respect to those around them.

I think Valeriei is probably referring to Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, published in 2020 by Norton.

Yes, history has shown us that most people want a strong leader and often follow ones that have evil intentions, Hitler, Stalin, Jim Jones, etc.

This is more complicated than it seems at first. People in many places want a strong ”leader” who will be strong on the issues that are important to them. At the same time, they may despise a leader whose aims do not align with theirs. In some countries, strong leader corresponds with brutality. Without a strong set of commonly held beliefs, strong leaders who want to dominate and defy the rule of law can be popular by finding some common interest that people will support. Power itself is very seductive, especially to strong leaders looking just for followers. In general, most people want to be able to take for granted that their welfare is secure and not think too hard about it.