Leadership as a historical phenomenon can only be adequately interpreted by behavioral scientific explanations, and that is by taking into account sociogenetic and psychogenetic variables. This book is a historical-scientific treatise, primarily a reference work, but also very useful as a self-help book. History has given us a plethora of industrial and political leaders and in the end ethical leadership is what society needs. Ethical leadership is leadership directed by ethical beliefs. Next to a historical introduction on the subjects of leadership (and broader management topics) and its kinship with basic democratic principles and democracy, this book offers a new insight in (political) management and what ‘quasi-control’ means for leadership processes and politics. ´On leadership and democracy´ is a historical essay with a range of scientific theories and a gallery of thought leaders and a tribute to Plato – it shows us the way on how power relations should develop in economic and political institutions. Written on an exceptionally wide range of theoretical perspectives throughout, each chapter is packed with features to aid study and reinforce learning. It is a reference work for scientific ideas and last but not least it is a plea for consensus decision-making and ethical leadership.This book is published in the context of the 25th anniversary of PLATO Business School in The Netherlands (PLATO NL). Reading this book you will find out that leadership is based on transactionality. In fact leadership, as a historical phenomenon, can only be methodologically interpreted by behavioral scientific explanations, and that is by taking into account sociogenetic and psychogenetic variables. This book is a historical-scientific treatise, primarily a reference work, but also very useful as a self-help book. History has given us a plethora of industrial and political leaders and in the end ‘ethical leadership’ is what society needs. Ethical leadership is leadership directed by ethical beliefs. Next to a historical introduction to the topics of leadership (and broader management topics) and its kinship with basic democratic principles and democracy, this book offers a new insight in (political) management and what ‘quasi-control’ means for leadership processes and politics. ´On leadership and democracy´ is a historical essay with a range of scientific theories, a gallery of thought leaders and a tribute to Plato. It shows us the way on how power relations should develop in economic and political institutions in post-capitalist society. Written on an exceptionally wide range of theoretical perspectives throughout, each chapter is packed with features intended as a polemic and to aid study and reinforce learning. It is a reference work for scientific ideas and last but not least it is a plea for consensus decision-making and ethical leadership.