Welcome to the fifth year of Leviathan!
It is with tremendous gratitude and pride that I present to you the first instalment of this volume. Five years amounts to an anniversary, and I knew that the theme of this issue had to reflect that.

Whether in the offices of Edinburgh academics, in the halls of Westminster, or in Wall Street boardrooms, leaders in all fields are fascinated, sometimes obsessed, with power. But that fascination is not only limited to those at the top. It permeates popular culture, and we can see it in ourselves as we root for our favourite power-hungry characters in Game of Thrones and House of Cards.

The latter series is delightfully and disturbingly sinister, depicting a person who, like the rulers in Orwell’s 1984, seeks power not for ‘wealth or luxury or long life or happiness’ but for its own sake. Frank Underwood assures us that ‘power is the old stone building that stands for centuries.’ But does the murderous anti-hero delude himself, like the mighty king of kings in Shelley’s Ozymandias? Perhaps power is just a house of cards.

And though it’s true that even the greatest empires crumble and fall, some power structures remain unbending. The world over, the fight against the tyranny of oppressive ideology has seen varying degrees of success. The crimes perpetrated by ISIS and Boko Haram, the introduction of harsh anti-gay legislation in Russia and parts of Africa, and the continuing failure to liberate and empower women demonstrate that the battle between liberalism and bigotry is not over, and progress not inevitable.

For this issue, we asked Leviathan contributors to research the lives and careers of people representing each of the regions we cover, plus, on popular demand, the international Christine Lagarde. The seven powerful individuals profiled herein are leaders and innovators in the fields of politics, business, finance, literature, and information wars. Some are heroes, some are villains, and some have yet to show their true colours, but all have shaped the fate of their region and the world.

We are happy to welcome for the first time Prof. Tao Xie of Beijing Foreign Studies University. His account of China’s pursuit of soft power provides us with a captivating insight into the subject. Meanwhile, University of Edinburgh graduate and EUSA President Briana Pegado reflects on power dynamics and the stories we tell in ‘Understanding Power’. Some of the best, and at times poignant, student writing we have hosted can be found in ‘Reconceptualising Power’ by Iqan Fadaei and ‘Another Country: Power in Northern Ireland’ by David Kelly.

Leviathan has come a long way in five years, and honourable mentions are in order for the journal’s trailblazing alumni. In particular, I would like to recognise my predecessors Maxwell Greenberg, Natasha Turak, and former creative director Adrie Smith as individuals who continue to inspire our work today.

The painting chosen for the front cover of this issue is The Victory of Lord Duncan by John Singleton Copley. It is on display in the Scottish National Gallery and depicts a moment in the aftermath of the Battle of Camperdown, one of the most significant naval victories in history. The leader of the Dutch forces offers his sword in a display of defeat, but Admiral Adam Duncan refuses, saying only ‘I would much rather take a brave man’s hand than his sword.’ Gentlemanly, merciful, and indeed most British. The gallantry, however, is made less charming by the striking presence of a burning ship, a reminder that however courteous the facade, this handover of power was brought about through brute force and imperial might.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the subject matter, Leviathan received a record number of submissions, making this the largest issue yet. Regrettably, we could not accommodate all articles in the printed version. We would like to thank all our contributors and encourage them to submit again for the February 2015 issue Borders.

Leviathan’s Power issue was brought into existence by a dedicated staff of twenty, who, between them, are gaining expertise in ten fields of study, speak fifteen languages, and have lived in twenty-five different countries. I would like to thank the Leviathan team, the PIR Society leadership, and the PIR Department at Edinburgh University for their wonderful work and support.

It is my first issue as Editor in Chief, and I can genuinely say that this product is a work of love. It sometimes feels impossible to be creative or to pay attention to detail when one is bogged down with the many managerial concerns that come with running an organisation. This is why, in addition to everyone else on the team, I would like to extend special gratitude to Deputy Editor in Chief Lene Kirstine Korseberg, Chief of Production Jessica Killeen, and Fundraising Director Juliana Fentress. The journal could not have met the standards of quality, integrity, and professionalism expected of it without their work and ideas.

We hope that you find the finished product worthwhile and thought-provoking.

Sincerely,

Marko John Supronyuk

Editor in Chief

Published: 28-Jun-2022