What is the utility of leadership? If leadership is just “practical”, is all encompassing it (including followership) just an act? Just a theatrical?
These are the kinds of questions that came to my mind upon digging up more information to strengthen my understanding of leadership in One Piece (more specifically as exemplified by Luffy, crew captain). In an argumentative discussion on what it means to be first mate (second in command) in the Straw Hat pirates, here’s a very abrupt and unforeseen quote that sent the argument on a subtle tangent: ” … leadership doesn’t mean anything with the Straw Hats. Every single member has given out orders at least once.” This quote calls into question the applicability of “leadership”; its functions as used. Who gets to “use” it? When? How? Where? Why?
My original research today was about Zoro and his viability as a leader. Roronoa Zoro is arguably the unofficial “second in command” in the Straw Hat crew. Many a times in the show, he’s bumped heads with Luffy (once even fought with Luffy); many times in the show, he’s heavily advised Luffy. As a leader though, a few commentators from the sources I’ve cited agree that Zoro is too serious of a leader. It might be safe to say that if Zoro was the 1st in command, he might be a tyrant. We see a kind of leadership like this with Blackbeard and his crew. However, disregarding Zoro’s strong affinity for booze, he has a very disciplined side, one very compatible with Bushido (Japanese for “way of the warrior”). This warrior’s discipline gives him a kind of “paradigm” from which he works as a leader from. Now, because all of the One Piece crew members, who are as diverse as they come and might even represent a “globalized” group, are so variable in character, it would be hard for Zoro to apply this paradigm towards the crew. The individual members of the crew overwhelmingly like their ability to each get into their own respective hobbies and interests. Such leadership “styles”, from Luffy’s laid-back applications to Zoro’s quasi-militantry, show the various possibilities for “forms” of leadership. The interesting type here is Nami’s “leadership”. Nami is the ship’s cartographer and navigator, but she is the most mood-swingy crew member (maybe even One Piece character). She diffuses many arguments between the Straw Hats when in conflict, but we see less of her politics when the crew is calm. Altogether, I think we can see that this idea of “leadership” is very shifty, as least as it presents itself in One Piece, and so much more so suggest that situations craft leaders, though leaders can “craft” situations. These should be places for analysis and incorporation in my next essay; much more so than just the voice of commentators.
Source 1: http://www.onepiecegold.com/zoro-will-leave-the-straw-hat-crew/2/
Source 2: https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=80809