Mr. Kerry's prodigious energy and desire to make a mark have made him a more activist secretary of state than his famous predecessor, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and so far at least, more willing to take risks than Mrs. Clinton, who may have another presidential campaign in her future.
But the present incumbent, Surin Pitsuwan, is rather different a career politician, who, as Thailand's foreign minister, tried to steer ASEAN into a more activist role in troublesome member states, such as Myanmar and Cambodia.
Weeks later, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni — which had lauded the Virginia board during the confrontation and says that in general, trustees should be much more activist — countered by asking the United States Department of Education to investigate the accrediting commission, accusing it of meddling in internal university affairs.
The only African-American running for a citywide office, Mr. Thompson wants to be a more "activist" comptroller, speaking out on the city's financial state.
A sometimes frustrated figure who prized her role as a team player, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's instincts were often more activist than those of a White House that has kept a tight grip on foreign policy.
Now there are fears that the new president will prove more activist than her predecessor and will stunt the country's growth with heavier-handed state interference in the next stage of Brazil's development.
You can believe that the welfare state is too big without believing that the unemployed are just lazy; you can believe that more activist monetary and especially fiscal policy would be a mistake without practicing Dark Age macroeconomics.
Others have a more activist bent.
Second, he promised a more activist government.
He is much more activist".
