Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Critical perspectives on leadership

Alvesson, Mats LU and Spicer, André (2014)
Abstract
This chapter reviews the emerging body of literature on critical theories of leadership. It begins by putting critical approaches to leadership in the context of broader debates about leadership. It notes that most existing work builds on either functional or interpretive assumptions. After noting some of the shortcomings with these directions, this chapter offers an alternative set of ideas based on critical theory. These suggest that leadership should be denaturalized and studied reflexively, and that this research should be done with a noninstrumental intent. The chapter then reviews the growing body of work that has built on these ideas. This work addresses issues including ideology, identity, exclusions and inclusions, and... (More)
This chapter reviews the emerging body of literature on critical theories of leadership. It begins by putting critical approaches to leadership in the context of broader debates about leadership. It notes that most existing work builds on either functional or interpretive assumptions. After noting some of the shortcomings with these directions, this chapter offers an alternative set of ideas based on critical theory. These suggest that leadership should be denaturalized and studied reflexively, and that this research should be done with a noninstrumental intent. The chapter then reviews the growing body of work that has built on these ideas. This work addresses issues including ideology, identity, exclusions and inclusions, and interventions. The chapter concludes by outlining a range of areas for future research. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
The Oxford Handbook of Leadership and Organizations
editor
Day, David
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISBN
9780199755615
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199755615.001.0001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
87536f28-c4c3-475a-b84d-eeeca7f06175
date added to LUP
2016-06-30 21:16:55
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:05:56
@inbook{87536f28-c4c3-475a-b84d-eeeca7f06175,
  abstract     = {{This chapter reviews the emerging body of literature on critical theories of leadership. It begins by putting critical approaches to leadership in the context of broader debates about leadership. It notes that most existing work builds on either functional or interpretive assumptions. After noting some of the shortcomings with these directions, this chapter offers an alternative set of ideas based on critical theory. These suggest that leadership should be denaturalized and studied reflexively, and that this research should be done with a noninstrumental intent. The chapter then reviews the growing body of work that has built on these ideas. This work addresses issues including ideology, identity, exclusions and inclusions, and interventions. The chapter concludes by outlining a range of areas for future research.}},
  author       = {{Alvesson, Mats and Spicer, André}},
  booktitle    = {{The Oxford Handbook of Leadership and Organizations}},
  editor       = {{Day, David}},
  isbn         = {{9780199755615}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{Critical perspectives on leadership}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199755615.001.0001}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199755615.001.0001}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}