Conference proceeding
THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF SECRECY IN THE OPEN SOCIETY; CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE FUNCTION OF LEADERSHIP
American Sociological Association
01 Jan 1969
Abstract
Confidentiality of policy deliberations is discriminated from other types of rights to withhold information from public circulation, eg, forms of privacy & administrative confidentiality. An analysis of the effects upon leader-follower relationships of institutionalized protections of the confidentiality of policy deliberations is then developed within the theoretical context of T. Parsons' treatment of the functions of political leadership. It is argued that institutions of confidentiality may provide important elements of security for the responsible leader's delicate symbolic position vis-a-vis his followership as well as assuring him freedom to consider a broader range of policy alternatives. The confidentiality of prior policy deliberations is shown to contribute to the leader's influence by enhancing his capacity to rationalize & dramatize his policies before the public, especially where the public is strongly pluralized. The possibility is thereby demonstrated that elements of secrecy may actually lessen rather than increase the SD between leader & follower. Circumstances which affect the realization of this possibility are examined.
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Details
- Title
- THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF SECRECY IN THE OPEN SOCIETY; CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE FUNCTION OF LEADERSHIP
- Creators
- Victor Lidz
- Publication Details
- American Sociological Association
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; [Retired Faculty]
- Identifiers
- 991021895798804721