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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 2596 Views
Egwene isn't supposed to be a leader. She's a dictator and a politician. - 16/12/2010 08:21:13 PM 1790 Views
Well! No love lost there - 17/12/2010 01:52:59 PM 1266 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 16/12/2010 09:35:44 PM 1550 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 16/12/2010 10:53:20 PM 1493 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 17/12/2010 03:07:40 AM 1549 Views
Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are? - 17/12/2010 04:52:34 AM 1351 Views
Re: Exactly how loyal do you think Nynaeve and Elayne are? - 17/12/2010 05:44:30 AM 1432 Views
That was the case a few books back - 17/12/2010 07:44:32 AM 1431 Views
Re: That was the case a few books back - 17/12/2010 10:14:36 AM 1458 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 17/12/2010 02:30:48 PM 1508 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 17/12/2010 08:25:39 PM 1242 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 18/12/2010 05:06:21 AM 1455 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 19/12/2010 08:41:31 PM 1350 Views
Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. *NM* - 20/12/2010 12:14:55 AM 791 Views
Re: Torturing Nynaeve for exclusively her own political ends. - 20/12/2010 01:24:12 AM 1362 Views
And the most painful torments were caused by Egwene - 20/12/2010 09:31:44 AM 1494 Views
That's not quite true. - 20/12/2010 06:47:33 PM 1284 Views
That's not quite accurate. - 21/12/2010 01:22:26 AM 1534 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 20/12/2010 12:57:42 AM 1244 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 20/12/2010 02:02:05 AM 1420 Views
Re: Egwene, a poor leader? - 22/12/2010 07:08:37 AM 1387 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 1447 Views
Ta'veren vs. Mary Sue - 17/12/2010 07:33:28 PM 1931 Views
I see them as being the same thing. - 17/12/2010 08:11:30 PM 1480 Views
I don't think the case can be made for Rand having it easy - 17/12/2010 11:04:58 PM 1337 Views
I would say that in the grand scheme of things, Rand's had good to balance out the bad. - 20/12/2010 06:27:35 PM 1330 Views
Funniest statement I've ever seen on here. - 18/12/2010 05:22:28 AM 1443 Views
Agree with your comments. - 20/12/2010 03:12:32 PM 1798 Views
You need to post more about Egwene - 17/12/2010 08:16:19 PM 1408 Views
Nah. Just a hyopcrite. *NM* - 17/12/2010 09:28:28 PM 762 Views
Yes, but for completely different reasons... - 18/12/2010 12:35:23 AM 1461 Views
Yes, communication is key. - 18/12/2010 05:32:01 AM 1289 Views
You think Egwene has more power than Tuon? - 18/12/2010 12:27:01 PM 1285 Views
Re: You think Egwene has more power than Tuon? - 18/12/2010 02:41:25 PM 1206 Views
Definitely... - 18/12/2010 03:24:12 PM 1311 Views
Where does the 200000 number come from? *NM* - 18/12/2010 03:36:22 PM 698 Views
That's not right... - 19/12/2010 12:56:25 AM 1287 Views
Re: That's not right... - 19/12/2010 11:38:54 PM 1413 Views
What's said above. Plus - 19/12/2010 11:00:42 AM 1267 Views
More explanations... - 20/12/2010 02:51:25 AM 1310 Views
Re: More explanations... - 20/12/2010 09:40:46 AM 1379 Views
Aiel, Cairhien and Andor are NOT under Egwenes power. - 20/12/2010 02:46:44 PM 1398 Views
Re: More explanations... - 20/12/2010 03:58:58 PM 1489 Views
An Amyrlin doesn't really have a power base. - 18/12/2010 05:43:12 AM 1390 Views
I think comparing Egwene to McCain is asking for trouble on several fronts. - 20/12/2010 12:33:04 AM 1275 Views
She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 02:41:32 AM 1301 Views
RJ is more powerful. - 20/12/2010 03:25:49 AM 1492 Views
I'd advise a re-read. Of ToM, and maybe the whole series... - 20/12/2010 03:58:03 AM 1341 Views
Re: I'd advise a re-read. Of ToM, and maybe the whole series... - 21/12/2010 09:08:20 PM 1360 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 09:46:22 AM 1371 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 09:55:03 AM 1278 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 10:27:59 AM 1342 Views
One example of this... - 20/12/2010 11:15:03 AM 1359 Views
Re: One example of this... - 20/12/2010 11:22:10 AM 1243 Views
Re: She has a pretty powerful weapon... - 20/12/2010 11:08:35 AM 1321 Views
That's not quite true. - 20/12/2010 10:35:45 PM 1338 Views

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