Revolutionary leaders need both fanaticism to win and flexibility to survive governing

Evidence

The microscientific approach is illustrated by Suedfeld and Rank’s (1976) and Tetlock’s (1981, 1993) analyses of the kind of cognitive complexity required by revolutionary leaders if, like Fidel Castro, they are to avoid the classic Robespierrean trajectory of being consumed by their own revolution. These survivors need singleminded fanaticism to win the revolutionary struggle, but also flexibility to use compromise and accommodation in governing the postrevolutionary regime. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 384

Categorization

• XREF: The Robespierrean danger of being consumed by one’s own revolution resonates with the Dido of Carthage self-immolation theme and sacrifice reading.
• STORYSTEM: A revolutionary leader who wins by fanaticism then must become a compromiser could be the arc of a protagonist torn between two identities.