Comparing the Leadership Styles of Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping

This essay compares the leadership style of two popular leaders, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping. It discusses their background, personal leadership styles, and a comparison of their leadership styles.

Running head: LEADERSHIP ESSAY
LEADERSHIP ESSAY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
Leadership can be considered to be a skill which enables an individual to lead other
people and assist them in their endeavors. It can be considered to be an important aspect for the
success of any company or a country which contribute towards ensuring that the country or the
company along with its members and citizens will be easily able to strive towards the path of
success1. However, the leadership styles and traits of different individuals are quite different
from one another and this is what makes the different leaders so unique2. The different leadership
styles reflect different mannerisms in dealings with the situation of the same kind. The given
essay compares the leadership style of two very popular leaders as present in the globe. These
leaders are Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India and Xi Jinping, the President of China.
Discussion
About Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi is an Indian Politician who is currently serving as the Prime Minister of
India. Previously, he served as a Chief Minister of a state in Gujarat from the year 2001 to 2014.
Earlier in life Modi assisted his family in selling tea and ran his own stall along with undertaking
regular education. Moreover, he started working with the RSS party and was later on made the
1 Antonakis, John, and David V. Day, eds. The nature of leadership. Sage publications, 2017.
2 Scmp.com 'The Pros And Cons Of Xi Jinping’S Strong Leadership Style' (South China Morning Post, 2018)
<https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2136235/xi-jinpings-strong-leadership-style-has-its-risks-
also> accessed 24 October 2018

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Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 due to the failing health of the previous chief minister and the
poor image portrayed. His tenure as a Chief Minister as well as Prime Minister has been praised
throughout due to his administration, encouragement of economic growth and making the
country and attractive destination for foreign companies. However, praised throughout the globe,
Modi remains a profound figure of controversy among the society at large due to the religious
connotations and exclusionary social agendas3.
About Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician who is currently serving as the President of the
People`s republic of China. Xi Jinping`s personality can often be taken to be as a paramount
leader and also as a core leader. He is at the top position of the China`s decision making body
named Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Part of China. The President assumed
office in the year 2013 and is the 7th President of the nation. Through his tenure he has taken up
various posts in the political context like the Vice President, Chairman of the Central Foreign
Affairs Commission, Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission among others4. His
constant efforts to make China a leading economy have been appreciated and he has introduced a
series of measures and disciplinary aspects to bring about various changes and ensure that there
exists a sense of internal unity.
3 Idsa.in 'Narendra Modi And Xi Jinping: Different Yet Same? | Institute For Defence Studies And Analyses'
(Idsa.in, 2018) <https://idsa.in/issuebrief/NarendraModiandXiJinping_agodbole_130515> accessed 24 October
2018
4 Idsa.in 'Narendra Modi And Xi Jinping: Different Yet Same? | Institute For Defence Studies And Analyses'
(Idsa.in, 2018) <https://idsa.in/issuebrief/NarendraModiandXiJinping_agodbole_130515> accessed 24 October
2018

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Leadership style of Narendra Modi
The leadership style of Narendra Modi can be described to be transformational in nature.
This is because, Modi believes in ensuring that the nation prospers under his reign. He has been
known to take various risks and opportunities in order to build a stronger nation. His
demonetization move in 2016, shocked the globe but he was appraised for his guts and smart
moves. Moreover, he is known to be quite tech savvy in nature whereby he ensures that, he
makes adequate use of the Social Media tools and other mediums to appeal to the youth of the
country5. However, his style is often deemed to be dictatorial as he holds a high number of posts
in the state cabinet. However, the manner in which he has managed crises has been praised
considerably.
Leadership style of Xi Jinping
Although Xi has hoped to present himself as a benevolent leader and described his
leadership style to be quite paternalistic in nature, this has not been the case and in reality, Xi has
been assumed as an autocratic leader who relies on the power and control over the freedom of
speech. Xi has built China on a foundation and makes use of the soft power for the different
citizens at home. According to Xi, the traditional values should be valued and the entire country
of China needs to be considered as a family where he is the Father. Hence, in brief his leadership
5 Hindustantimes.com 2018. 'The Tale Of Two Leaders: Why Modi And Xi Are Similar Yet Different'
(https://www.hindustantimes.com/, 2018) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-tale-of-two-leaders-why-
modi-and-xi-are-similar-yet-different/story-45wapMQI8gvzECsHl4z8mI.html> accessed 24 October 2018

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style can be described to be a merge of old values as well as the new economic leadership and
agility
Comparing the leadership styles of Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi
As these leaders are eminent leaders of Asia, they have often been compared to one
another. According to Hindustantimes.com (2018), the most similar aspect about Modi and Xi is
that their previous leaders were less vocal and hence, their appointment and personalities have
deemed to be more charismatic, effective and vocal. Moreover, as the years of tenure of these
leaders is considerably high, they have been assigned with the responsibility of shaping the
economic as well as social dimension of the country at large6. In addition to this, both the leaders
have another common aspect which is nationalism and serves as guiding force for their ruling.
Both the leaders enjoy the power they possess and have reigned at the top by the formulation of
domestic policies and agendas for the welfare of the society at large7. Economically, both the
leaders are smart and realize the value of foreign investments and there exists a sense of
competition between them. Although they do not like to be portrayed as one, the leaders are
highly autocratic in nature in the democratic setting of their respective countries8.
6 Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications, 2018.
7 Lussier, Robert N., and Christopher F. Achua. Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development. Nelson
Education, 2015.
8 Tourish, Dennis. "Leadership, more or less? A processual, communication perspective on the role of agency in
leadership theory." Leadership 10, no. 1 (2014): 79-98.

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However, Idsa.in (2018), states that Modi is more modest in nature as compared to Xi
who believes that his policies are best for China but Modi has some policies like Swach Bharat
too which forms a nation building canvas. The strikingly similar personal styles of the two
leaders can be stated to be quite commendable with the fact that there exists high decision
making power with the leaders and have isolated the opposition parties. Another style which is
similar is that they keep speaking about their populist image9. Another aspect is that their
autocratic leadership style, although subtle has a strong reflection on the internet policies.
However, Modi is often observed to push an internet free dissent whereby Xi has China derived
of major giants.
Conclusion
Hence, from the given analysis it can be stated that the personalities and leadership style
of Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping can be stated to be quite similar in nature. Both are masked in
democratic styles but backed by autocratic behaviors. Moreover, both the leaders have an aim of
making their countries a global superpower. The essay outlined the background and personal
leadership styles of the leaders along with a comparison of their leadership styles. Moreover,
from the analysis as undertaken in the essay it could be understood that these two leaders have
become quite popular internationally due to their unique style of leadership and visible success in
the countries at large.
9 Fairhurst, Gail T., and Stacey L. Connaughton. "Leadership: A communicative perspective." Leadership 10, no. 1
(2014): 7-35

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References
Antonakis, John, and David V. Day, eds. The nature of leadership. Sage publications, 2017.
Fairhurst, Gail T., and Stacey L. Connaughton. "Leadership: A communicative
perspective." Leadership 10, no. 1 (2014): 7-35.
Hindustantimes.com 2018. 'The Tale Of Two Leaders: Why Modi And Xi Are Similar Yet
Different' (https://www.hindustantimes.com/, 2018) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-
tale-of-two-leaders-why-modi-and-xi-are-similar-yet-different/story-
45wapMQI8gvzECsHl4z8mI.html> accessed 24 October 2018
Idsa.in 'Narendra Modi And Xi Jinping: Different Yet Same? | Institute For Defence Studies And
Analyses' (Idsa.in, 2018)
<https://idsa.in/issuebrief/NarendraModiandXiJinping_agodbole_130515> accessed 24 October
2018
Lussier, Robert N., and Christopher F. Achua. Leadership: Theory, application, & skill
development. Nelson Education, 2015.
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications, 2018.
Scmp.com 'The Pros And Cons Of Xi Jinping’S Strong Leadership Style' (South China Morning
Post, 2018) <https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2136235/xi-jinpings-
strong-leadership-style-has-its-risks-also> accessed 24 October 2018
Tourish, Dennis. "Leadership, more or less? A processual, communication perspective on the
role of agency in leadership theory." Leadership 10, no. 1 (2014): 79-98.