religious leadership, business leadership and political leadership. This
fascinating and rich variety of 39 contributions from 21 countries
shows the diversity of leadership concepts, e.g. family leadership
models in the different cultures. The struggle between Confucianism,
Socialism and Christian ethics in China, the conflicts between tradi-
tional and Christian concepts in Cameroon, the debate between con-
servative and liberal family ethics in Canada show the conflicts of
values in almost all societies and show ethical argumentation to solve
it. The articles also show the interaction between the different sectors
so that e.g. family models are reflected in politics and the behaviour
of their leaders. The contributions also show the strong influence of
religious leadership on other sectors in its positive and negative sense.
Many of the authors argue from a Christian ethical background,
some from a Muslim or a philosophical point of view. Leadership is
also an important gender issue which is an explicit focus in different
articles such as from South Korea, Argentina, Switzerland and South
Africa. All authors are rooted in their own context and try, at the
same time, to overcome it in situations of transformation and to con-
front it with the global challenges.
In the name of Globethics.net, we thank all the authors for their
contribution, the Globethics.net secretariat and WCC publications for
the good and efficient cooperation in the production of the book.
We hope that this collection contributes to sharpen the sensitivity
for irresponsible and unjust leadership and the abuse of power. We
hope that it strengthens the vision and values of responsible leader-
ship in global and contextual perspectives. We hope that men, women
and young people act as responsible stewards who understand lead-
ership as a service to those in need and a service to human develop-
ment in this one world.
Geneva/Nairobi, Advent 2006
Christoph Stückelberger and J. N. K. Mugambi, editors2 Responsible Leadership : Global Perspectives