Eengeleider

Eengeleider (Dutch for "one leader") is a term used in political science and organizational theory to describe a governance arrangement in which all executive authority is vested in a single individual. It is a descriptive concept rather than a formal designation of a specific regime, and it is often used to contrast with systems that distribute authority among cabinets, councils, or boards.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Dutch, literally combining een meaning "one" and leider meaning "leader." In scholarly writing, a eengeleider arrangement is discussed as a form of personalist or centralized leadership where the leader consolidates decision-making power, policy direction, and administrative control.

Characteristics and implications: In a eengeleider system, decision-making tends to be centralized and streamlined, enabling rapid policy shifts and a unified strategic vision. Formal checks and balances may be weakened or designed to operate primarily through the leader’s personal authority, rather than through independent institutions. Benefits often cited include efficiency and clear accountability to the leader, while criticisms focus on risks of autocracy, reduced deliberation, and instability or abrupt policy change if leadership changes or faltering legitimacy occurs. The strength and resilience of such a system depend on institutional design, charisma or legitimacy of the leader, and the existence of informal norms or constitutions that constrain abuse of power.

Context and scope: The term is used across political and organizational contexts, including personalist regimes, centralized bureaucracies, monarchies with strong executive prerogatives, or corporate leadership models where the chief executive holds decisive sway. It remains a descriptive lens rather than a normative endorsement.