Some people believe their politicians should be educated and well-read academically, whereas, others believe that education is irrelevant to politics and lawmaking needs more practical experience. Both the side somehow has a point. It has been practically witnessed that even ill-educated people can turn into good politicians and can frame exemplary laws. However, being educated has a charm of its own. Education makes one confident, enhances aptitude, and develops critical thinking. There is no doubt why many people prefer their lawmakers educated. Thankfully, there are plenty of highly educated politicians out here who are serving the masses. Here are the 10 most educated leaders around the world:
1. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson: The current President of Iceland, Johannesson is a highly educated leader. He completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Warwick, majoring in history and political science. He then went on to get a master’s degree from the University of Iceland in 1997. In 1999, he completed an MSc degree in history at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford. In 2003, he received a Ph.D. in history from Queen Mary, University of London.
2. Hassan Rouhani: Former President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani studied in an Islamic religious school during his childhood. He then went on to study B.A. degree in Judicial Law at the University of Tehran from 1969 to 1972. Rouhani continued his studies at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland and graduated in 1995 with an MPhil degree in Law.
3. Dr. Manmohan Singh: Former Prime Minister of India, D Manmohan Singh got his Master’s degree in Economics from the Punjab University, completed his Economics Tripos from St John’s College, the University of Cambridge in 1957, and went to the University of Oxford in 1960 to pursue his doctoral degree (DPhil).
4. Angela Merkel: Former Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel is a highly educated leader who holds a doctorate as a physical chemist before she entered politics in 1989. Merkel worked and studied at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Adlershof from 1978 to 1990.
5. Lee Hsien Loong: Incumbent Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong is amongst the most well-educated world leaders. In 1971, he was awarded a President's Scholarship and Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship by the Public Service Commission to study mathematics at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. In 1980, he completed a master's degree in public administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
6. Tony Abbott: Former Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott is one of the leading figures in Australian politics. Abbott has completed his Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian University of Sydney. He further pursued his studies in the Queen’s College of Oxford where he completed his Masters in Economics and Politics. And then went to study for a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the same institution.
7. David Cameron: Former Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron is a businessman, lobbyist, and author. He studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Brasenose College, Oxford University. He was in the 1988 batch and received a first-class honors degree.
8. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe: Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Haimemariam Desalegn Boshe BSc in Civil Engineering from the AAU. Furthermore, he went on to MSc from Finland Tampere University in Water and Environmental Engineering.
9. Dr. Heinz Fischer: Former President of Austria, Dr. Heiz Fischer studied law at the University of Vienna, earning a doctorate in 1961. He has got a degree in law and political science. He was appointed a permanent professor of political science in 1994 at the University of Innsbruck.
10. Shashi Tharoor: A Member of Parliament in India, Shashi Tharoor earned his honors degree in History from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. He was a bright student, who had won a scholarship to Tufts University in Boston. He earned his master’s degree in the US and also a Ph.D. at Tufts University in Diplomacy from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
