The Impact of Leadership Styles on Crisis Management Strategies of the Palestinian Political Leadership: An Analytical Study from the Perspective of Military and Civilian Retirees in the Hebron Governorate

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impact of specific political leadership styles (Pragmatic, Charismatic, Broker/Organizer) practiced by the Palestinian political leadership on the application of certain crisis management strategies (Course Change, Mobilization Reserve, Crisis Unloading, Crisis Fragmentation, Crisis Containment). This was examined in the context of the leadership facing a series of recent and diverse crises (health, economic, social, security) in the West Bank, evaluated from the perspective of retired military and civilian personnel. To achieve this objective, a descriptive correlational methodology was employed. Data was collected using a validated and reliable questionnaire distributed to a convenience sample of 338 retired military and civilian personnel in the Hebron Governorate. The main findings indicated that the degree of application of the three leadership styles, as well as the five crisis management strategies, by the Palestinian political leadership was generally rated as "moderate" by the sample. The "Pragmatic" style was the highest-rated among the leadership styles, while the "Course Change" strategy was the highest-rated among the strategies. Conversely, the "Broker/Organizer" style and the "Crisis Unloading" and "Crisis Containment" strategies received relatively lower ratings (though still within the moderate range). Regression analysis revealed a strong, direct, and statistically significant impact of the practiced leadership styles collectively on the level of application of crisis management strategies (explaining 93.1% of the variance), underscoring the pivotal role of leadership in guiding crisis responses. Furthermore, the results showed statistically significant differences in respondents' assessments based on their demographic variables (gender, nature of work, years of experience, and educational qualification). Based on these findings, the study presented several key recommendations. These include the necessity of enhancing the effectiveness of political leadership practices and the application of crisis management strategies through development programs, cultivating balanced leadership skills, addressing perception gaps among different demographic groups, establishing mechanisms for institutional learning from crises, and leveraging the expertise of retirees in ongoing evaluation and development processes.