Charismatic authority, as defined by the sociologist Max Weber, is one of three forms of authority laid out in Weber's tripartite classification of authority, the other two being traditional authority and legal or rational authority. Sociology is the study of the social lives of humans, groups and societies. ... Maximilian Weber (April 21, 1864 – June 14, 1920) was a German political economist and sociologist who is considered the founder of the modern study of sociology and public administration. ... In politics, authority generally refers to the ability to make laws, independent of the power to enforce them, or the ability to permit something. ... Max Weber distinguished three ideal types of political leadership, domination and authority: charismatic domination (familial and religious), traditional domination (patriarchs, patrimonalism, feudalism) and legal domination (modern law and state, bureaucracy). ... Traditional authority (also known as traditional domination) is a form of leadership in which the authority of an organization or a ruling regime is largely tied to the tradition. ... Rational-legal authority (also known as rational authority, legal authority, rational domination, legal domination) is a form of leadership in which the authority of an organization or a ruling regime is largely tied to legal rationality, legal legitimacy and bureaucracy. ... Rational may be: the adjective for the state of rationality acting according to the philosophical principles of rationalism a mathematical term for certain numbers; the rational numbers the software company Rational Software; now owned by IBM, and formerly Rational Software Corporation This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which...

Characteristics

Charismatic authority is 'power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers' (Kendall, Murray, Linden, 2000). As such, it rests almost entirely on the leader; the absence of that leader for any reason can lead to the authority's power dissolving. In common usage, leadership generally refers to: the position or office of an authority figure, such as a President [1] a group of influential people, such as a union leadership [2] guidance or direction, as in the phrase the emperor is not providing much leadership capacity or ability to lead...

Due to its idiosyncratic nature and lack of formal organization, charismatic authority depends much more strongly on the perceived legitimacy of the authority than Weber’s other forms of authority. For instance, a charismatic leader in a religious context might require an unchallenged belief that the leader has been touched by God. [1] (http://atheism.about.com/od/religiousauthority/a/types_2.htm) However, should the strength of this belief fade, the power of the charismatic leader can fade quickly, which is one of the ways in which this form of authority shows itself to be unstable. In contrast to the current popular use of the term charismatic leader, Weber saw charismatic authority not so much as character traits of the charismatic leader but as a relationship between the leader and his followers. Alternative meaning: Organisation (band). ... The word legitimacy comes from the Latin word legitimare and it has two uses: Legitimacy (political science) is whether or not people accept the validity of a law or ruling or the validity of a governing regime. ... Religion, a term sometimes used interchangeably with faith, is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. ... Belief is assent to a proposition. ... The term God is ordinarily used to designate a singular, universal Supreme Being. ...

Note that according to Weber, a charismatic leader does not have to be a positive force; thus, both Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler could be reasonably considered charismatic leaders. The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965) was a British statesman, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. At various times an author, soldier, journalist, and politician, Churchill is generally regarded as... Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945), a German politician who was the founder of the Third Reich (1933-1945), is widely regarded as one of the most significant and reviled leaders in world history. ...

Routinizing charisma

Charismatic authority almost always evolves in the context of examples of traditional or rational-legal authority which provide forms and boundaries, but by its nature tends to challenge currently accepted forms of authority and thus is often seen as revolutionary. [2] (http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/teaching/503/weber_links.html) However, the constant challenge that charismatic authority presents to older forms of authority must eventually either subside or be incorporated into the society. The way in which this happens is called routinization. The term Revolutionary is some what vague and may be thought to be relative to the context it is used in. ...

Routinization is the process by which ‘charismatic authority is succeeded by a bureaucracy controlled by a rationally established authority or by a combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority’ (Turney, Beeghley, and Powers, 1995 cited in Kendal et al. 2000). For example, the Prophet Muhammad was succeeded by the traditional authority and structure of Islam, a clear example of routinization. In numerous religions, including Abrahamic religions, Jah religions, Sikhism, and many forms of Paganism, a prophet is an intermediary with a deity, particularly someone who speaks for the deity or interprets the deitys will or mind. ... This is Muhammad, I lied god isnt real I just wanted some attention ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ...

Examples

According to Weber, the idea of charismatic authority emerged from the sociology of religion, and is particularly associated with new religious movements (including cults) led by a charismatic individual (e.g. a prophet or a guru), who can create laws by decrees that are sometimes based on revelations, gives upadesh (instruction), or gives advice that ardent followers may see as absolute commands. According to the sociologist Eileen Barker at the London School of Economics charismatic leaders of new religious movements are unpredictable. ^{[3] (http://www.fathom.com/feature/121938/)} As in the example of Islam, a religion which evolves its own priesthood and establishes a set of laws and rules is likely to lose its charismatic character and move towards another type of authority upon the removal of that leader. The sociology of religion is – among other elements – the study of the practices, social structures, historical backgrounds, universal themes, and roles of religion in society. ... A new religious movement or NRM appears as a religious, ethical or spiritual grouping that has not (yet) become recognised as a standard denomination, church, or body, especially when it has a novel belief system and when it is not a sect. ... In religion and sociology, a cult is a group of people devoted to beliefs and goals which are not held by the majority of society, often religious in nature. ... A guru (गुरू Sanskrit) is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. ... Decree is an order that has the force of law. ... For information on the last book of the New Testament see the entry on the Book of Revelation. ... Eileen Barker is a professor in sociology and is a member of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics. ... The London School of Economics and Political Science, often called the London School of Economics or the LSE, is one of the worlds eminent specialist universities, and is widely regarded as the most prestigious social science institution. ... A new religious movement or NRM appears as a religious, ethical or spiritual grouping that has not (yet) become recognised as a standard denomination, church, or body, especially when it has a novel belief system and when it is not a sect. ... A priesthood is a body of priests, shamans, or oracles who are thought to have special religious authority or function. ...

In politics, charismatic rule is often found in various authoritarian states, autocracies, dictatorships and theocracies. In order to help to maintain their charismatic authority, such regimes will often establish a vast personality cult, which can be seen as an attempt to lend legitimacy by an appeal to other forms of authority. When the leader of such a state dies or leaves office and a new charismatic leader does not appear, such regime is likely to fall shortly afterwards if it is unable to survive without the personal attraction of the ruler, or it may become routinized as described above. The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against the population, generally without attempts at gaining the consent of the population. ... Autocracy is a form of government where unlimited power is held by a single individual. ... Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler were two of the 20th centurys most notorious dictators. ... Theocracy is a form of government in which a religion and the government are allied. ... Adolf Hitler built a strong cult of personality, based on the Führerprinzip. ...

Religious charismatic leaders

Some famous charismatic leaders in religion include:

• Gautama Buddha
• John Calvin
• Jesus
• Martin Luther
• Muhammad
• Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
• Adi Sankara
• Joseph Smith
• Swami Vivekananda
• Sathya Sai Baba
• Jim Jones

Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE. Gautama Buddha was a South Asian spiritual leader who lived between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE, although Buddhist legends stated that he was born on April 8, 1029 BCE, and died on February 15, 949 BCE. Born Siddhartha... John Calvin John Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564) was a preeminent Christian theologian during the Protestant Reformation and is the namesake of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism. ... The neutrality and accuracy of this article are disputed. ... Martin Luther (originally Martin Luder or Martinus Luther) (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) was a German theologian and an Augustinian monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines of Lutheran, Protestant and other Christian traditions (a broad movement composed of many congregations and church bodies). ... This is Muhammad, I lied god isnt real I just wanted some attention ... Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) was a Bengali religious leader. ... Sri Adi Sankara Adi Shankaracharya or Adi Shankara (the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of Lord), Shankara (approximately 509- 477 BC (though some claim 788-820 CE)) was the most famous Advaita philosopher who had a profound influence on the growth... Daguerreotype which some experts believe to be an original 1843 photograph of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Introduction Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Dutta) (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902) is considered one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the Hindu religion. ... Sathya Sai Baba Sathya Sai Baba (born Sathya Narayana Raju with the family name Ratnakaram, circa 1926-1929) is a popular, controversial Indian guru who has millions of followers and hundreds of Sathya Sai Baba groups in many countries. ... Categories: People stubs | 1931 births | 1978 deaths | Cults | New religious movements | Suicides ...

Political charismatic leaders

Some notable charismatic rulers in history include:

• Alexander the Great
• Julius Caesar
• Fidel Castro
• Adolf Hitler
• Mao Zedong
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Indira Gandhi
• Mother Teresa
• Kim Il-sung

Bust of Alexander III in the British Museum. ... Painting of Gaius Julius Caesar Bust of Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (Latin: C·IVLIVS·C·F·C·N·CAESAR¹) (July 12 or July 13, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC) was a Roman military and political leader whose conquest of Gallia Comata extended the Roman world all the way... Cuban President Fidel Castro waves the Cuban flag during May Day celebrations, 2005 Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926), has led Cuba since 1959, when, leading the 26th of July Movement, he overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista. ... Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945), a German politician who was the founder of the Third Reich (1933-1945), is widely regarded as one of the most significant and reviled leaders in world history. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Mao. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी), called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of Indias independence from British colonial rule to world attention. ... Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (इन्दिरा प्रियदर्शिनी गान्धी) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and from January 14, 1980 until her assassination in 1984. ... Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu Mother Teresa of Calcutta (August 27, 1910 – September 5, 1997) was an internationally renowned and controversial Catholic nun and founder of the Missionaries of Charity whose work among the poor of Calcutta was widely reported. ... Kim Il-sung (April 15, 1912–July 8, 1994) was a Korean Communist politician and the ruler of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) from 1948 until his death. ...

See also

• The Three Types of Legitimate Rule
• Guruism
• Statesman
• List of messiah claimants
• List of self-proclaimed deities

The Three Types of Legitimate Rule is a book written by Max Weber, a German economist and sociologist. ... The term statesman is a respectful term used to refer to diplomats, politicians, and other notable figures of state. ... This is a list of people who have been said to be a messiah either by themselves, or by their followers. ... A deity (from Latin, deus, god), or a god, is a postulated supernatural entity, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, held in high regard, or respected by humans. ...

References

1. Kendall, Diana, Jane Lothian Murray, and Rick Linden. 2000. Sociology in our time (2nd ed.). Scarborough, On: Nelson, 438-439.
2. Charismatic Authority: Emotional Bonds Between Leaders and Followers (http://atheism.about.com/od/religiousauthority/a/types_2.htm)
3. Weber links (http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/teaching/503/weber_links.html)
4. Barker, E New Religious Movements (London: HMSO, 1992), page 13

External links

• Unrecognized charisma? A study and comparison of four charismatic leaders: Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, L Ron Hubbard, Swami Prabhupada. by George D. Chryssides (http://www.cesnur.org/2001/london2001/chryssides.htm) Paper presented at the 2001 International Conference The Spiritual Supermarket: Religious Pluralism in the 21st Century, organised by INFORM and CESNUR (London, April 19-22, 2001)
• Introducing New Religious Movements, by Eileen Barker, from the London School of Economics (http://www.fathom.com/feature/121938/) Text of an interview with her, plus downloadable video of the interview