ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the context of school leadership in China today by discussing some of the important cultural traditions underpinning leadership and learning in China. It offers a rough profile of modern Chinese leadership, which brings together influences of socialist/communist ideologies and Western leadership theories and juxtaposes these with some strands of traditional Chinese thought. Understanding preferred leadership styles helps to identify the cultural scripts that underpin the 'right' leadership as perceived by leaders and followers in China. The influence of society and culture on leadership and organisational behaviour are fully recognised in the educational leadership literature. Although Confucianism is often treated as shorthand for Chinese culture, Chinese preferred leadership styles are underpinned by a range of Chinese philosophies and ideologies. Confucianism has and continues to exert a significant influence on Chinese leadership thinking.
