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Re: Egwene, a poor leader? Lord Haart Send a noteboard - 18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM

I'm not so sure about the appointment part. From what I understand, the Hall has a great deal of influence over this process. Besides, what offices are there to which Egwene can make appointments? The only one I can think of it as ambassadors to other nations; the Hall and Ajahs run the rest.


The power of apppointment can be used either positively or negatively. Egwene can appoint sisters who oppose her to meaningless tasks or meaningless places without input from the Hall. An ally of Romanda could be sent to Arad Doman to distribute food, an ally of Lelaine could be given task of rat removal for Tar Valon, and if you really piss Egwene off you could be sent as a Windfinder instructor. On a positive note Egwene can make appointments that strengthen he position in the Tower. Silvliana is an example. Egwene got a very competetant Keeper and she made a gesture that would get Red support. Egwene can use appointments to weaken her foes and strengthen her supporters.


Which makes her a tyrant, rather than a good leader per say. A good leader unites people with positive reinforcement, a tyrant makes paranoid decisions like demoting enemies. If she goes that path, she's no better than Elaida.


Egwene can rely on what, ten Aes Sedai? Out of approximately 1000? Elayne and Nynaeve aren't planning on living their lives in the Tower to be able to support her, so while trustworthy I really can't count on them as being reliable when it really comes down to it. As you say, she'll need 20 years for all the novices to become AS before she's able to rely on them. In the interrim, she'll have to fight tooth and nail to get anything done.


I think Egwene can rely on a few more than ten Aes Sedai. The Aes Sedai who really oppose Egwene are few in number. Most of the Aes Sedai will support Egwene because she is the Amyrlin. Romanda, Lelaine, and their handful of supporters will continue to oppose some if not most of Egwene policies, but I don't think they want to overthrow Egwene with Tarmon Gaidan just around the corner.

I guess we will have to disagree on the power of the moral suasion of Nyneave and Elayne. I think most Aes Seadai seeing Egwene being supported by the Queen of Malkier, defeater of Moggy, healer of the stilled, healer of the taint, healer of taint madness, healer of the weather, and the most powerful channeler in the Tower would give supporting Egwene a thought.


IMO, using the respect of others as a justification of leadership only goes so far. If she is a GOOD leader, she will at least be respected (not feared) by her enemies. IMO, a big part of this is humility. Her decisions should be respected because they make sense on their own, not because she is the one putting them forward. So far, I think her decision making hasn't been too bad, everything given, but coming up to Merrilor I see a situation where her ego could affect her rationality.
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Egwene, a poor leader? - 16/12/2010 05:59:15 PM 2147 Views
Egwene isn't supposed to be a leader. She's a dictator and a politician. - 16/12/2010 08:21:13 PM 1302 Views
Well! No love lost there - 17/12/2010 01:52:59 PM 794 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 16/12/2010 09:35:44 PM 1077 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 16/12/2010 10:53:20 PM 1000 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 17/12/2010 03:07:40 AM 1113 Views
Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are? - 17/12/2010 04:52:34 AM 870 Views
Re: Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are? - 17/12/2010 05:44:30 AM 976 Views
That was the case a few books back - 17/12/2010 07:44:32 AM 969 Views
Re: That was the case a few books back - 17/12/2010 10:14:36 AM 969 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 17/12/2010 02:30:48 PM 1027 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 17/12/2010 08:25:39 PM 813 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM 973 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 19/12/2010 08:41:31 PM 874 Views
Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. *NM* - 20/12/2010 12:14:55 AM 534 Views
Re: Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. - 20/12/2010 01:24:12 AM 926 Views
And the most painful torments were caused by Egwene - 20/12/2010 09:31:44 AM 1039 Views
That's not quite true. - 20/12/2010 06:47:33 PM 852 Views
That's not quite accurate. - 21/12/2010 01:22:26 AM 1122 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 20/12/2010 12:57:42 AM 838 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 20/12/2010 02:02:05 AM 941 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 22/12/2010 07:08:37 AM 876 Views
She has the same power base as any Amyrlin - the Aes Sedai, the artisans, Guards & citizens of TV - 17/12/2010 05:51:20 PM 968 Views
Ta'veren vs. Mary Sue - 17/12/2010 07:33:28 PM 1338 Views
I see them as being the same thing. - 17/12/2010 08:11:30 PM 968 Views
I don't think the case can be made for Rand having it easy - 17/12/2010 11:04:58 PM 887 Views
Funniest statement I've ever seen on here. - 18/12/2010 05:22:28 AM 978 Views
Agree with your comments. - 20/12/2010 03:12:32 PM 1171 Views
You need to post more about Egwene - 17/12/2010 08:16:19 PM 935 Views
Nah. Just a hyopcrite. *NM* - 17/12/2010 09:28:28 PM 496 Views
Yes, but for completely different reasons... - 18/12/2010 12:35:23 AM 1009 Views
Yes, communication is key. - 18/12/2010 05:32:01 AM 868 Views
You think Egwene has more power than Tuon? - 18/12/2010 12:27:01 PM 830 Views
Re: You think Egwene has more power than Tuon? - 18/12/2010 02:41:25 PM 781 Views
Definitely... - 18/12/2010 03:24:12 PM 867 Views
Where does the 200000 number come from? *NM* - 18/12/2010 03:36:22 PM 447 Views
That's not right... - 19/12/2010 12:56:25 AM 834 Views
Re: That's not right... - 19/12/2010 11:38:54 PM 960 Views
What's said above. Plus - 19/12/2010 11:00:42 AM 802 Views
More explanations... - 20/12/2010 02:51:25 AM 834 Views
Re: More explanations... - 20/12/2010 09:40:46 AM 893 Views
Aiel, Cairhien and Andor are NOT under Egwenes power. - 20/12/2010 02:46:44 PM 892 Views
Re: More explanations... - 20/12/2010 03:58:58 PM 1019 Views
An Amyrlin doesn't really have a power base. - 18/12/2010 05:43:12 AM 940 Views
I think comparing Egwene to McCain is asking for trouble on several fronts. - 20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM 831 Views
She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 02:41:32 AM 867 Views
RJ is more powerful. - 20/12/2010 03:25:49 AM 966 Views
I'd advise a re-read. Of ToM, and maybe the whole series... - 20/12/2010 03:58:03 AM 899 Views
Re: I'd advise a re-read. Of ToM, and maybe the whole series... - 21/12/2010 09:08:20 PM 898 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 09:46:22 AM 948 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 09:55:03 AM 809 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 10:27:59 AM 894 Views
One example of this... - 20/12/2010 11:15:03 AM 930 Views
Re: One example of this... - 20/12/2010 11:22:10 AM 796 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 11:08:35 AM 883 Views
That's not quite true. - 20/12/2010 10:35:45 PM 880 Views

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