THE NEW THEORY OF LEADERS OF STATE— SCHOLA NOBILITÉ

By Desmond Ayim-Aboagye
The world had lived to see different leaders and their kingdoms rise and fall. These leaders had been major players in civil wars and world wars. It was told of old that some of these leaders did a superb job also in that they helped their people to succeed in times of trouble. Still there were others who made it very difficult for their people to enjoy peace and security because not only were these nations put into deep trouble by their neighbours but they were forced to become slaves to other neighbouring citizens due to these leaders' improper behaviour or bad rule.

Thus leadership had been a symbol of strength to some other nations while to some it had led to their total failure to achieve prosperity. These harms they did to their citizens are usually transferred to the neighbouring states which sometimes consequently led to major world wars.

But when we consider the activities of certain leaders and the chaos they caused to the world, one wonders whether there were not many intelligent individuals or the geniuses living among these people those days? These bad leaderships allowed their citizens to suffer and for some were taken into captivity by the stronger nations around. Could not these men of talents warn these leaders to desist from such behaviours and then concentrate on good works among their people? Well, this manner of calling the leadership into accountability were seen to have functioned strenuously well among the ancients, especially among the Ancient Jews whom their wise men sometimes questioned the character of certain leaders and brought them to justice. These superb manners of counselling leadership helped them to prevent major disaster occurring. In fact, it had been told frequently that they sometimes asked these leaders to repent from their bad ways and to do some rituals before they could take up the leadership mantel once again.

Now these types of counselling did not take place among many other nations that were living around as neighbours. Nor were these behaviours the characteristic of the nations that followed after the downfall of these ancient civilisations. It had not been the usual manner of certain smaller tribes that came after who now and then found themselves in bitter fight among themselves and other stronger nations. We had heroes that usually became leaders and led their nations out to fight a bigger nation that terrorised them but it was not succinctly described on these numerous occasions whether they had stronger men with characters that came out to oppose these leaders and counselled them on their arrogant behaviours.

The absence of these men with strong characters who could go out boldly and counselled a king or any leaders in the world of the modern Europe and the nations of modern world had caused greater harms to the inhabitants of the world. If indeed there were these men who were around and had engaged in their work in the usual manner of opposing leaders, counselling them, asking them to repent their ways, asking them to consider matters of importance that were affecting the nations, they had not been many. Probably, historians had not been adamant in writing bout them because they did not consider this as a matter of importance. But my own observation and the investigations of what had happened in the century that had gone and the one we have just entered have revealed that powers given to leaders are supposed to use by him and a few other advisors that are around them. Seldom did we find people of strong characters coming out boldly to oppose these men; they would come and defend them and if possible agreed to all he has been doing or been accused of as right and worthy of doing. Direct and strong leadership support irrespective of what they are doing had caused or led the world into going to unnecessary wars, which had destroyed the lives of many people.

We do not know the situation now, but the experiences of the numerous wars and deliberate cause to catastrophe in this last century, still remind us of lack of people with strong characters that can go forward to oppose certain dictators and their gangs about the atrocities being done to their people and neighbouring nations. Nations had been concerned with making profits and gains to cater for their people without pausing to think what their careless behaviours were doing to the poor souls in somewhere in the Third World or beyond. This manner of looking for supremacy had for long time made certain nations to have developed a character equal to the barbarian nations of old that only went out destroying properly built civilisations and all the things they had acquired. If we were to stop killing ourselves we could live better lives on earth for it could be done so long as we are determined to do so. This would mean to think about others that live around us whenever we wanted to go to war and think about what would be the result.

In the following, is a new theory that had been propounded to help leaders of state to live and work for their various countries and still be cherished even when they are no longer in power. In other words, it was found that because many of the leaders that come to rule as President (P) or Prime Minister (PM) have no better professions to work with when they are no longer in power as the leaders of states, they are compelled to hang on to power to become dictators. Some even go to the extent of changing the constitution of their country in order to allow them to stay in power forever. This had led to chaos in certain countries, which consequently had caused civil wars and other major wars. If a leader knows that there is something in store for him whenever he/she is no longer in power, he would serve his country in humility and leave the political scene without much trouble. This is what caused us to develop this theory of leaders of state, which is entitled, Schola Nobilité, the former from Greek word meaning “school” and latter from French word meaning “Noble”. These refer to the leaders of states as “noble academicians” who would serve their countries in humility and happiness.

The theory posits three schools for these noblemen. Firstly, there is the school where the P or PM becomes the leader who rules in the country in question and dispenses his duties solely as the P or PM. Secondly, there is the school where the former P or PM is no longer in power but is transferred to the position as Chief for Strategic Development in the country in question. Here, he supervises the projects he commenced but could not complete during his terms in office. In fact, this position can be acquired so long as one has fought through elections and had been P or PM in the first or second term. Thirdly, there is the school where the former P or PM becomes honoured as the Professor and takes a responsibility in one of the State Universities in the country. Now, in all these positions the former President or Prime Minister maintains his presidential pay because of the distinguished professions or responsibilities they are engaged in.

After the third school (and this is base on the shift that has been made up there as the new President resumes his job and the former P or PM move to occupy the Honorary Professor position) the former P or PM shifts to the stage where he becomes concerned with the building of a foundation which he wants to leave as a legacy in his country. The final stage, which is called the Silence Years, becomes the period where the former P or PM will be old such that he would be fighting the frailties of life and therefore would be seen keeping to himself and his near relatives. At this age, the former P or PM would like to have his peace and remain in secluded position. His pay is usually eighty percent of that of his presidential pay, having been reduced due to his age and his meagre needs.

Why the theory allows us to cater for the lives of the former P and PM is that these men despite their ages have a lot of experiences which would be needed by the country now and then. So as they are around they could be called upon now and then to share their experiences on certain matters; these careful advices would help the country to avoid catastrophe or accidents that would permit the people to enjoy peace and prosperity. Furthermore, by engaging in such approach a country would not experience difficulties with regards to the squandering of their money, which usually occurs when the Presidents or Prime Ministers have no knowledge of what would happen after their terms, are over.

Finally, by allowing these distinguished men to enjoy these privileges, we shall give them the opportunity to become accountable to the nation; make them follow the principle of continuity with regards to development in the country; avoidance of power conflicts; keep them informed of the progress in the country; provide them a belonging to keep their set of friends in the higher places; and lastly, enjoy the unique interaction with the public. It is these things that are stripped off from these noble academicians abruptly that make them to decide to hang on to power to become dictators or despotic rulers or leaders.

In conclusion, the instituting of the theory of schola nobilité would make the world a better place to live and contribute to the avoidance of certain things that often lead to civil wars and conflicts in countries that are not versed with the employment of the democratic principles to steer the affairs of their nations.

References
Ayim-Aboagye, D. (2008). The Security of Nations: A Psychological Perspective on Modern Theory of War. Hammersmith, London: Lulu UK Enterprise.

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Montesquieu, Charles de Secondat, (1776). The Spirit of the Laws. Vol. 1., Tranl. Thomas Nugent. 1777. London: J. Nourse.