Profeetallinen politiikka : tarinoita menneestä kulta-ajasta ja vielä loistavammasta tulevaisuudesta

Authors

• Jan Hanska

Abstract

Prophetic politics is a concept which is often understood simply as the infusion of religiosity into politics. The aim of this article is to extend the scope of the concept and view it through narra­tives. I argue that, by using narratives, a prophetic political leader is able to communicate a grand vision of a glorious future and, at the same time, portray each moment as critical and thus calling for important decisions. Well-told narratives enable the politician to ignite political passions and to make political events more significant and interesting for the average citizen. In effect, citizens become more involved in the political realm. As an example of a prophetic politician I have cho­sen Ronald Reagan, whose storylines guide Republican politics to this day.