Political Leadership and the European Commission Presidency

Henriette Müller, Visiting Assistan t Professor of Leadership Studies, New York University Abu Dhabi

Henriette Müller (New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE) is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies at New York University Abu Dhabi. Her research encompasses the comparative study of political leadership and executive politics both at the national and international level. At NYUAD, Müller teaches and conducts research on women and leadership with an emphasis on the European Union and the Arab Gulf region, as well as pursues comparative studies on the influence of political leadership on national economic growth across diverse regions and countries. Her research has appeared in journals such as Politics & Governance, Journal of European Integration and West European Politics. 

«This path-breaking book examines the political leadership of European Commission presidents. Despite intrinsic weaknesses in the office, Müller shows convincingly how and when various presidents are more or less effective in their leadership, examining their personal dispositions, the institutional structure and the specific circumstances in which these presidents serve their term. This study will prove to be the leading go-to work on political leadership of Commission presidents.» – Amy Verdun, Professor of European Politics and Political Economy, Leiden University, and Jean Monnet Chair Ad Personam, University of Victoria

«This is an excellent and timely book. The scholarship is first-rate; the subject matter highly topical; and the writing refreshingly crisp. The author has mastered a wealth of material on political leadership in general and EU leadership in particular, and strikes a fine balance between theory and practice. Political Leadership and the European Commission Presidency should be essential reading for scholars and students of EU governance, especially at this crucial stage of the EU’s development.» – Desmond Dinan, Professor of Public Policy and Jean Monnet Professor Ad Personam, George Mason University

«This excellent book addresses the important but under-researched topic of the political leadership of European Commission Presidents. Resting on a systematic and comparative analysis and based on a convincing and clearly explained analytical framework, Müller seeks to unpack what really determines the (successful) leadership performance of Commission Presidents.» – Michelle Cini, Professor of European Politics, University of Bristol