The thesis addresses the issue of political leadership. In particular, it examines the leadership style of the German chancellor Angela Merkel. The leading question the thesis aims to answer is what defines Merkel as a leader? Whereby the next questions demand a deeper understanding of the uniqueness of her leadership style. For this purpose, the thesis establishes a comprehensive theoretical framework in where all relevant concepts are explained. Afterwards the following chapters of the research are dedicated to an semi-chronological overview of her political career and its accomplishments. All the way from her starts in politics to the developments of the euro crisis and migration crisis, we establish a pictures overview of her defining moments. Through an methodological framework of an meta-analysis, the paper then evaluates contemporary leadership research of the chancellor and later establishes an comprehensive reinterpretation of her leadership style. Finally, the findings are presented in the concluding parts, where the research question receive their deserving attention.
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