Comparison between Prime Ministers Borden and King’s Performances both as Statesmen and as Politicians.

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Introduction

A statesman would be defined as a person who occupies themselves with the dealings of government, and endeavors to influence in shaping the government’s policy. On the other hand, a politician is a person who primarily devotes his efforts towards his individual progression in public office, or the accomplishment of their political party. Statesmen and politicians differ in many ways. While a statesman would find it a decidedly fundamental task to offer service to the populace, a politician is primarily focused on winning elections to a political party. A position of authority in governmental entails, responsibility of service to the population. Those designated to serve, bear a critical responsibility that is embedded on their conscience. The decisions that they make in the process of governing the citizenry ought to be constructive and wise. The majority of politicians bear little ethical fiber. It is evident that, politicians will actually take advantage of the people, in order to retain a position that they may be currently holding, or anticipate holding. On the other hand, a statesman would be concerned on the subject of the vision of the nation and how to realize the vision securely. This paper posits to provide a comparison between Prime Ministers Borden and King’s performances both as statesmen and as politicians.

William Lyon Mackenzie King

Prime Minister Mackenzie King was the leading political figure in Canada from the 1920s to the 1940s. It is alleged that he led Canada through depression, war as well as prosperity. Mackenzie King came short of the characteristic personal qualities of prominent leaders, principally in comparison with Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joey Smallwood from Newfoundland. It is alleged that the electorate did not esteem him. He fell short in regard to charisma, oratorical skills, or an authoritative presence. In view of the fact that he reigned from 1921 to 1930, and continued to govern once again from 1935 to 1948 Mackenzie King had such a long stretch in power because he possessed extraordinary skills that were precisely appropriate to the needs of the country. However, by 1945, his government had endorsed a range of reforms, which included means-tested old-age pensions, family allowances, and national unemployment insurance. He demonstrated a thorough understanding and insightful intelligence of the linkages between the economy and society. He understood the relationship between capital and labor.

King understood the Canadian mentality and temperament and had mastery of timing. As a technocrat he regarded managerial arbitration as vital to an industrialized society. He endeavored to have his Liberal party that he represented to stand for liberal corporatism, in order to generate social harmony. It is evident that King worked towards bringing harmony and compromise to numerous feuding and competing elements. He achieved this through the use of politics as well as government action as his major instrument. King is on record as having established the country’s international repute as a nation that is powerfully devoted to world order.

Robert Borden

Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden was a political leader who guided his nation through the 1st World War. By means of astute bargaining, Robert Borden accomplished equal status for his country with England in the Commonwealth. Borden was voted to the House of Commons in 1896 as a Halifax conservative member. Borden was able to acquire a respectable repute in Parliament. His tenure was neither trouble-free nor instantly successful. Borden’s government may not be regarded as having been particularly powerful. His Quebec representation was feeble while the financial affairs of numerous of the English-Canadian ministers were dubious. Borden, as an individual was above reproach, but he essentially lacked the requisite ruthlessness to any first rate prime minister.

Comparison

It is apparent that King had attributes of a politician that Borden did not embrace. For instance, King as a politician was able to steer his party to Liberal party to victory in the federal election of 1921. Following the defeat of his party by Liberal party by the Conservative party led coalition in 1925, King was still able to form a government. On the other hand, Borden did not command adequate authority in party politics. However, Borden governed Canada at a time when the 1st War broke. He was compelled to make some hard decision that, though he had the vision of a statesman, the politicians differed with him. This was evident in his intention to enforce conscription, or mandatory military service, on a nation that was weary with war. This generated discord among the political circles, although numerous members the country’s minorities were of the opinion that by participating in the war, they would improve their status in society. Borden was overwhelmed by opposition including from suffragists, who were disillusioned by the disappointments brought about by the war to herald any key transformation in the society.

Bibliography

Herd, Thompson. The Harvests of War: The Prairie. West, 1914-1918. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 2000.

John, Cooper. Plato’s Statesman & Politics. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000.

Margaret Macmillan. Canada & Peace Settlements. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001.