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Angela Merkel has a Phd in chemistry. But many (most?) European leaders are actually technocrats.
by mercurial 12y ago
Angela Merkel has a Phd in chemistry. But many (most?) European leaders are actually technocrats.
- Luc 12y agoThe previous prime minister of Belgium has a chemistry PhD too. He went straight into politics out of university, though.
- sn41 12y agoAgain a counterexample. The previous Indian Prime Minister was a Ph D in economics (and a very accomplished economist at that) [1] The current prime minister was the son of a tea-seller, and not very highly educated.[2] Who do most think is a better prime minister? The second. I believe faith in technocrats is misplaced, and wisdom does not equal technical competence. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manmohan_Singh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manmohan_Singh [2] http://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/ http://time.com/3823155/narendra-modi-2015-time-100/
- IkmoIkmo 12y agoHe was a bit late to the game, and not quite as educated as Singh, but he did eventually end up doing his Masters. Anyway, you raise a fair point with a solid counterexample.
- lmz 12y agoLady Thatcher also had a Chemistry degree and worked for a while in Industry.
- signal11 12y agoMargaret Thatcher (somewhat controversial, I know) had a 2nd-class BS Honours in Chemistry from Oxford, and apparently the first UK Prime Minister with a science degree. [source: Wikipedia]
- mohawk 12y agoMerkel is the exception to the rule, though. Here is an article on the composition of the German parliament: http://www.dw.de/few-entrepreneurs-in-new-german-parliament/a-17170809 http://www.dw.de/few-entrepreneurs-in-new-german-parliament/... More than half are administrators (probably civil servants i think), teachers, lawyers.