In this first session we will explore the interdisciplinary field of leadership studies focusing on how we will go about analyzing historical leaders in their cultural and historical context.

Survey of the life and context of Jan Hus as a church and social reformer. Discussion on the meaning of courageous followership within Hus’ life- the ways in which he was both obeying the church and defying the church at the same time- what happens if you fundamentally disagree with your authorities?

We will take an academically focused excursion to Lany, the summer residence of the Czech president since Masaryk. We will visit the T.G.M. Museum and the grounds of Lany palace and residence. We will look at the life and times of T.G. Masaryk in terms of the Czech revival, his unpopularity for stances on controversial issues, and why and how he founded Czechoslovakia right after the “Great War”.

We will reflect on what we learned about Masaryk as a democratic leader from the museum and at his beloved Lany Chateau. We will also explore the leadership ethics of heroism, mythology, and the romance of leadership. We will also venture up to Prague Castle to see some Masaryk-related sites.

Vaclav Havel’s Play “The Increased Difficulty of Concentration” (1968)

We will examine Plamínková’s challenges as a school teacher turned women’s rights advocate turned Senator during the First Republic. We will discuss her stance against Hitler and look at the context of Operation Anthropoid to which her death is associated. We will discuss the dangers of picking up the mantle of leadership and the elements of mentoring since the elder Plamínková and Horakova had a close relationship. We will visit the excellent exhibit in the National Museum.

Many of the leaders we are studying resisted and suffered under acts that could be characterized as “evil.” Yet evil comes in many forms and the more we are acquainted with these forms the more we can recognize it before it takes hold. There were many ethical dilemmas in resisting or combatting evil for leaders and followers, including Operation Anthropoid where the use of assassination could arguable make the situation worse for many thousands of people. And, what happens after atrocities are committed? How and why should we remember the calamities of the past? We travel to two sites: the site where the Czech paratroopers were hunted down by the Gestapo, and the site where a town was annihilated.

We will look at Horakova’s life in terms of the relationship between suffering and spiritual leadership. We will discuss what she faced under The First Republic as she began her political activity and work for women’s rights. We will also go to several of the places where Horáková studied, worked for women’s rights, and served refugees and families.

Through the museum and our discussion we will explore the events that led to the communist coup in 1948 as well as the evolution of totalitarian communism in Czechoslovakia.

We will watch parts of a recent (subtitled) movie on Jan Palach and discuss this act of self-immolation on Wenceslas Square in 1969. Why was this act important? Can one act be a form of leadership?

We will discuss Havel’s life and times leading up to and through his presidency, watching several documentaries on his life. We will explore Havel and Charter 77 leadership in the 1980s and Havel’s time as the last president of Czechoslovakia and first president of the Czech Republic. We will look at the relationship between hope and leadership and the ways in which power complicates hope in the process of leadership.

We will tour the places in Prague where Havel lived, lead, and shaped him into the person he was. Then we’ll look at the students of the Velvet Revolution and how the Civic Forum that Havel helped start became a conduit for a regime change and the journey from totalitarianism to democracy.

As a capstone experience, we will discuss the Czech leadership tradition and its legacy today with a 1989 student-leader and democratic advocate as well as the producer of the highly acclaimed documentary, Power of the Powerless. We will be joined by other guests, including participants of Arete Youth Academy, whose mission is to foster global citizenship. We will screen the documentary and then have a lively discussion with our guests which will continue over lunch.