The image of an ideal leader is more diverse than we often imagine. For some, a leader is a strong, authoritative figure. For others, it is a selfless, compassionate individual. Still, others see an ideal leader as a highly intelligent and rational decision-maker. This diversity in perception is striking, and I believe it is one of the underlying reasons for the deep divisions we face, particularly in the realm of political leadership.
Consider the recent presidential election in the United States, the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the tensions between China and Taiwan, and the varying leadership styles seen among European nations. The same diversity in leadership ideals is evident in the disputes between Palestine and Israel, the leadership dynamics in Islamic nations, and, more recently, the divisions emerging from the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) trial against a former president of the Philippines. Even at the local level, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly elections and other prefectural elections, there is an ongoing discussion about what defines an ideal leader.
Disagreements over leadership are always contentious, often leading to deep societal and political divisions. It seems that each person’s perception of leadership is one of the most sensitive topics, capable of making people uneasy, even aggressive.
Understanding Leadership Through Spiral Dynamics
One framework that offers insight into these divisions is Spiral Dynamics. This model suggests that conflicts over leadership arise from differences in what it calls “value Memes”—a combination of individual and collective consciousness levels that shape how people perceive the world.
First Tier (Subsistence)
- Beige – Basic survival instincts
- Purple – Tribal/familial bonds
- Red – Power and dominance
- Blue – Order and structure
- Orange – Achievement and success
- Green – Community and inclusivity
Second Tier (Being)
- Yellow – Systemic thinking and integration
- Turquoise – Holistic and global perspective
- Coral – Transcendent awareness
- Teal – Evolutionary coherence
If your center of gravity in the value Meme spectrum is red, you are likely to seek a charismatic, strong leader, consciously or unconsciously believing that this form of leadership is ideal. If your dominant Meme is purple, you may instinctively believe that only members of your family or tribal group should be trusted with leadership roles.
For those operating from a blue value Meme, leadership is not about individuals but about laws and institutional processes that take precedence over personal qualities. If orange is the dominant value Meme, economic rationalism and meritocratic efficiency become the guiding principles. If green is the focal point, no single individual or system is considered absolute—collective consensus is seen as the best path forward.
Additionally, at the beige level, which represents the most primal state of human consciousness, leadership is dictated purely by survival instincts. In such conditions, the ability to instill fear—similar to dominance in the animal kingdom—could be the primary form of leadership.
The Evolution of Leadership Ideals
The Spiral Dynamics framework categorizes these value Memes into two tiers. The first tier includes beige, purple, red, blue, orange, and green, which represent the most common worldviews shaping leadership ideals. Beyond this, the second-tier Memes—yellow, turquoise, coral, teal, and others—transcend these foundational perspectives, allowing individuals to integrate and understand all previous value Memes from a meta-perspective.
Those who reach the second tier can recognize and transcend the limitations of first-tier leadership ideals. They can appreciate both the strengths and weaknesses of different leadership styles without being controlled by them. By reflecting on the life conditions associated with each value Meme, one can begin to glimpse the second-tier consciousness, stepping back from ideological divisions to see leadership more holistically.
The Strong Leader
At the most primal level of human consciousness, beige represents an instinct-driven existence, akin to infancy or the animal world. Leadership at this stage is based on raw survival instincts—those who can command fear and exert physical dominance hold power.
Moving up the Spiral, the purple value Meme emerges as the foundation of kinship-based tribal societies. Leadership in this stage is familial, with paternal or maternal figures, elders, or spiritual leaders taking charge. The focus is on maintaining tribal cohesion, and decision-making is entrusted to those with experience and wisdom.
This form of leadership remains deeply embedded in many modern societies. Even in politics and corporate settings, leadership roles are often inherited by family members, regardless of qualifications. The belief that only trusted family members should hold power perpetuates dynastic leadership structures.
The red value Meme represents an amplification of tribal leadership, where an extraordinarily charismatic individual transcends kinship bonds to command large groups. This is the domain of warlords, conquerors, and autocratic rulers. Figures like Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan exemplify this form of leadership, where power is consolidated through sheer force and personal influence, allowing the creation of vast empires.
Leadership and the Rule of Law
However, red leadership is inherently fragile. As the charismatic leader ages, the question of succession becomes problematic. Without a clear process, power struggles ensue, often leading to instability or collapse.
This vulnerability led to the emergence of the blue value Meme, where leadership is no longer centered on individuals but on laws and institutions. In this worldview, the law takes precedence over personal authority, ensuring equality before the law for all individuals, including leaders themselves. The democratic process governs leadership selection and policy decisions.
The French Revolution was a defining moment in the rise of the blue Meme, replacing autocratic rule with constitutional law. Ironically, however, the revolution eventually led to the rise of another red-level leader, Napoleon, highlighting the ongoing tension between personal charisma and institutional stability.
Nevertheless, the modern world has largely embraced the blue value Meme, establishing legal frameworks that ensure fundamental human rights and procedural justice. Under this system, leadership is bound by constitutional principles rather than personal will.
This is why extra-judicial killings are universally condemned as crimes against humanity, regardless of political justifications. The same principle applies to war crimes in Ukraine and Palestine—human rights violations must be addressed collectively through legal and institutional frameworks rather than individual authority.
Leadership and Economic Rationalism
While legal frameworks offer stability, they also introduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. Lengthy processes can obscure the original purpose of laws, and legal expertise often becomes a tool for manipulation rather than justice. In societies governed by strict legalism, those who understand how to exploit legal loopholes often benefit the most.
The orange value Meme emerges as a response to these challenges, emphasizing economic rationalism and technological advancement. This worldview prioritizes efficiency, innovation, and competition, leading to the rapid development of industries, global markets, and technological ecosystems.
Under this paradigm, leadership is driven by market forces rather than legal mandates. The modern corporate world thrives on this value system, producing unprecedented technological advancements that have transformed human life. This era of economic and technological optimism even fosters the belief that artificial intelligence and space exploration will eventually solve all global challenges.
Leadership and Compassion
Despite the material success brought by economic rationalism, social inequalities persist. Recognizing this, the green value Meme emerges, advocating for inclusivity, diversity, and compassion. This worldview seeks to integrate all previous value Memes, emphasizing collective decision-making and social harmony.
However, the very strength of the green Meme—its embrace of all perspectives—also leads to its greatest weakness: relativism. If all perspectives are equally valid, it becomes difficult to establish clear standards for leadership.
Paradoxically, this worldview sometimes fosters an implicit superiority complex, where those who advocate for inclusivity see themselves as more enlightened than others.
The Emergence of Second-Tier Leadership
The challenge, then, is to move beyond first-tier relativism and into the second-tier value Memes, beginning with yellow. Yellow is often described as a radiant beige—it shares the spontaneous, instinctive qualities of the beige Meme but is far more mature and sophisticated. Just as beige acts on survival instinct, yellow operates with an effortless, fluid understanding of complex systems. Leadership at this level is not driven by ego, ideology, or authority but by an intuitive grasp of what is needed in each moment.
Unlike first-tier Memes, which often struggle for dominance over one another, yellow leadership is adaptive, integrating the strengths of all prior levels without being trapped by their limitations. It acknowledges the necessity of structure (blue), the power of innovation (orange), and the value of inclusivity (green), yet it transcends the constraints of each. It does not impose rigid laws, chase endless growth, or fall into the paralysis of relativism. Instead, it moves with clarity and purpose, recognizing that leadership is situational and fluid.
This shift requires deep reflection on how first-tier value Memes shape our perceptions of leadership. By stepping back and adopting a meta-perspective, we can move beyond divisive debates over leadership figures and toward a more holistic understanding of leadership itself. The current divisions over leadership are not merely political—they are systemic, rooted in the collective consciousness of society. Whether we recognize it or not, we are all influenced by these value Memes. The key to overcoming these divisions lies in our willingness to reflect, understand, and eventually transcend them.
Image by InspiredImages
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