In times of crisis there is often a fine line between great leadership and inadequate leadership, which with regard to the latter can actually compound an existing disaster. Alternately, it is often out of disaster that great leadership comes to the fore because more than adequate leadership is required.

The contemporary era is one of extraordinary transition and change due to the socio-economic impact of rapid and advanced social change. Social Action in terms of analysing situations past and present is essential if the world is going to positively adjust to profound change that is occurring.

Due to technological innovation the world is entering a period of potentially negative creative destruction where change results in less employment being generated. The contemporary context of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) could create a context in which negative creative destruction causes high levels of poverty and associated social crisis.

The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) raises attention regarding two differing approaches to politics. Is political leadership about centralizing power to achieve a narrow control of resources by and for self-interested elites? Alternately, should political leadership be concerned wealth creation as the basis to create and sustain a viable society? Should politics around the world in the context of the GFC take the high road or the low road?

The most frustrating aspect of tragedy is that, by definition, it is avoidable. Perhaps it is excusable to make mistakes if you do not know what the consequences will be. Inversely, it is inexcusable to make self-inflicted mistakes when you actually do know better.