Charisma in the 1952 Campaign
- 1 December 1954
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in American Political Science Review
- Vol. 48 (4) , 1083-1102
- https://doi.org/10.2307/1951012
Abstract
The term charisma—miraculously-given power—was transferred by Max Weber from its original religious meaning to politics. He described it as “the absolutely personal devotion and personal confidence in revelation, heroism, or other qualities of individual leadership.” He contrasts charisma with leadership based on custom and tradition or on competence related to “rationally created rules” of law. The charismatic leader is thus the one whose claim to rule is neither as a perpetuator of traditional values nor as one who resolves conflicting interests by reasonable and just means but as one endowed with superhuman powers to solve political problems. In the abstract, pure case he is seen by his followers as being all-powerful, all-wise, and morally perfect.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Political Ideas in the Twentieth CenturyForeign Affairs, 1950
- INTOLERANCE OF AMBIGUITY AS AN EMOTIONAL AND PERCEPTUAL PERSONALITY VARIABLEJournal of Personality, 1949