Analyzing Bad Leadership in V for Vendetta

I chose this clip from V for Vendetta because it so clearly demonstrates multiple aspects of a bad leader. The man on the screen, Chancellor Sutler, is about as nasty a person as you can find, and bears a striking resemblance to Hitler in both attitude and policy. He runs England with an iron fist, giving people very little freedom and removing anything that may be seen as a threat to his government. In the clip, this comes in the form of the song, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Since it now serves as a reminder to the explosion of the Old Bailey, it may cause people to question the government, so he blacklists it. Additionally, he treats his subordinates poorly, demanding results from them and getting angry at one follow for even mentioning his opinion about the situation. Sutler also delves into the seven habits of unsuccessful leaders, as he believes that he is irreplaceable, and tries to use the media to show that the country needs him for their survival. On a different note, he also shows that he is willing to, and probably often does, blatantly lie to his followers in order to retain their support. This clip furthermore demonstrates the results of having a leader like this. Throughout the clip, the camera pans to each member of Sutler’s cabinet. Almost all of their faces show a look of subtle contempt or anger directed towards the Chancellor.