Do leaders make a differenceŒ Do they actually leadŒ There is a rich body of theoretical literature in which one can find many different responses. 1 The question can be dealt with on the level of the philosophy of history as well as on the basis of empirical political sociology. The present paper takes the second road. Using data from the behavioral research conducted in Poland since 1966, 1 particularly from the four studies conducted since the beginning of democratic reforms, I shall try to illustrate the importance of reformist leadership in Poland’s local politics.

During the democratic transformations in post-communist states, one of the key issues has been the formation of a politically neutral civil service. Poland made some limited steps in this direction during the pre-transition stage of the 198Os, but the formation of a civil service remained one of the tasks of the new democratic regime. Although several reforms were blueprinted by the last Solidarity-based cabinet of Hanna Suchocka, the Cabinet did not last long enough to have them passed through parliament. After the defeat of the post-Solidarity parties in the parliamentary election of September, 1993, the new governing coalition was divided on the issue of a politically neutral administration, with the Union of the Democratic Left (SLD) adopting a more reformist position than the Polish Peasant Party (PSL). This experience demonstrates the importance of political will in reforming public administration in the post-communist states.