Charismatic authority

In sociology, charismatic authority refers to a type of organizational leadership where a leader's authority stems from their personal charisma. In his tripartite classification of authority, sociologist Max Weber contrasts charismatic authority- associated with character, heroism, leadership, and religion- against two other authority types:

(i) rational-legal authority, which encompasses modern law, the sovereign state, and bureaucracy, and

(ii) traditional authority, represented by patriarchy, patrimonialism, and feudalism.

The Ancient Greek word " charisma " became known through the Pauline epistles to Christian communities in the first century of the Common Era, where it denoted a gift of divine origin that demonstrated the divine authority possessed by the early leaders of the Church. Weber transformed the theological term and concept of charisma into a secular term for the sociological study of organizations. Terms derived from " charisma " include charismatic domination and charismatic leadership.

Characteristics

Charisma

Weber applies the term charisma to:

[A] certain quality of an individual personality sets him apart from ordinary men, leading to his being regarded as possessing supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. These attributes are inaccessible to the average person, yet they are seen as of divine origin or exemplary, prompting the individual to be treated as a leader. How this quality would ultimately be judged from ethical, aesthetic, or similar perspectives is naturally indifferent for the purpose of definition.

In the modern era, some psychologists have defined charisma in terms of practical outcomes (i.e., charismatic leaders are effective). However, such a definition results in circular reasoning. The conclusions derived from such definitions (and measures) cannot be refuted since proponents claim something akin to " if effective, then charismatic. " Charisma, however, can be studied scientifically if viewed as a costly signal, using values, symbols, and emotions. It has been shown to correlate strongly with general intelligence, and observers infer that those signaling charisma are more competent. Its economic value in consequential settings has also been examined scientifically. Thus, Weber's insights were valuable in naming the construct of charisma, although his definitions and insights did not allow for its scientific study. Modern social science, however, has found support for the notion that charismatic leaders can, under certain conditions, be very persuasive.

Authority

Weber interchanges authority and dominance:

[H]as been regarded in sociological terms as representing the legitimate or socially approved use of power. It is the legitimate power that one person or a group holds and exercises over another. The element of legitimacy is crucial to the concept of authority and serves as the primary distinction between authority and the broader notion of power. Power can be exerted through force or violence. Authority, in contrast, relies on the acceptance by subordinates of the right of those above them to issue orders or directives. Charismatic authority is often the most enduring of regimes because the leader is perceived as infallible, and any action against him is viewed as a crime against the state. Charismatic leaders tend to cultivate a cult of personality, frequently without their own intention.

[P]ower is legitimized by a leader's exceptional personal qualities or by demonstrating extraordinary insight and accomplishments that inspire loyalty and obedience from followers.

Leadership is the power to diffuse positive energy and a sense of greatness. As such, it rests almost entirely on the leader. The absence of that leader for any reason can lead to the erosion of the authority's power. However, due to its idiosyncratic nature and lack of formal organization, charismatic authority relies much more heavily 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, in the sense of a prophet. Should the strength of this belief fade, the power of the charismatic leader can diminish quickly, which is one of the ways this form of authority demonstrates its instability.

In contrast to the current popular understanding of the term charismatic leader, Weber viewed charismatic authority not merely as character traits of the leader but as a relationship between the leader and their followers. The validity of charisma is based on its "recognition" by the leader's followers (or "adepts" – Anhänger). His charisma risks fading if he is "abandoned by God" or if "his government fails to provide any prosperity to those he governs. "

Routinizing charisma

Charismatic authority often jeopardizes the boundaries established by traditional (coercive) or rational (legal) authority. It tends to confront this authority and is therefore frequently viewed as revolutionary. Typically, charismatic authority becomes integrated into society, which leads to a reduction in the challenges it poses. This process through which this occurs is known as routinization.

By routinization, the charismatic authority changes:

[C]harismatic authority is followed by a bureaucracy governed by a rationally established authority, or by a blend of traditional and bureaucratic authority.

A religion that develops its own priesthood and establishes a set of laws and rules is likely to lose its charismatic character and shift toward a different type of authority. For example, Muhammad, who had charismatic authority as "The Prophet" among his followers, was succeeded by the traditional authority and structure of Islam, which serves as a clear example of routinization.

In politics, charismatic rule is often observed in various authoritarian states, including autocracies, dictatorships, and theocracies. To maintain their charismatic authority, such regimes frequently establish a vast personality cult. When the leader of such a state dies or leaves office, and a new charismatic leader does not emerge, the regime is likely to collapse shortly thereafter unless it has become fully routinized.

Charismatic succession

Due to the concentration of authority in one leader, the death of that charismatic leader would result in the collapse of the government unless prior arrangements have been made. A society confronting the end of its charismatic leader can either opt for a different leadership format or facilitate the transfer of charismatic authority to another leader through succession.

According to Max Weber, the methods of succession include search, revelation, designation by the original leader, designation by qualified staff, hereditary charisma, and office charisma. These are the various ways an individual and a society can work to preserve the unique energy and nature of charisma in their leadership.

Search

"The search for a new charismatic leader occurs based on the qualities that qualify him for a position of authority." An example of this search method is the quest for a new Dalai Lama. "It involves seeking a child with characteristics interpreted to signify he is a reincarnation of the Buddha." This search exemplifies how an original charismatic leader can be compelled to "live on" through a successor.

Revelation

"In this case, the legitimacy of the new leader depends on the legitimacy of the selection technique." The selection technique is the modus operandi of the selection process. In ancient times, oracles were believed to have special access to "divine judgment," and thus their selection technique was perceived as legitimate. Their choice was imbued with the charismatic authority that came from the oracle's endorsement.

Designation by original leader

In this form, the original holder of charismatic authority is seen as having passed that authority to another. For example, Joseph Stalin's assertion that Vladimir Lenin had chosen him as his successor in leading the USSR illustrates this concept. To the extent that people believed this claim, Stalin acquired Lenin's charismatic authority.

Designated by qualified staff

"A successor may be designated by the charismatically qualified administrative staff. This process should not be interpreted as 'election' or 'nomination.' It is not determined by merely a majority vote; unanimity is often required." A case example of this form of succession is the papal conclave of cardinals tasked with choosing a new pope. The cardinals participating in the papal conclave are viewed as charismatically qualified by their Roman Catholic congregations, thus imbuing their choice with charismatic authority.

Hereditary charisma

Charisma can be seen as "a quality passed down through heredity. " This method of succession is evident in Kim Il Sung's charisma being inherited by his son, Kim Jong Il. This type of succession is a challenging endeavor and often leads to a movement towards traditionalism and the legalization of authority.

Office charisma

"The concept of charisma may be transmitted through ritual means from one bearer to another. It involves dissociating charisma from a particular individual, making it an objective and transferable entity." Priestly consecration is considered a modus through which priestly charisma for teaching and performing other priestly duties is passed to an individual. In this manner, priests inherit this charisma and are subsequently perceived by their congregations as possessing the charismatic authority that accompanies the priesthood.

Application of Weber's theories

Weber's model of charismatic leadership giving way to institutionalization is endorsed by several academic sociologists.

New religious movements

Eileen Barker discusses the tendency of new religious movements to have founders or leaders who wield considerable charismatic authority and are believed to possess special powers or knowledge. Charismatic leaders are unpredictable, Barker notes, because they are not bound by tradition or rules, and their followers may grant them the right to influence all aspects of their lives. Barker warns that in such situations, the leader may lack accountability, require unquestioning obedience, and foster a dependence on the movement for material, spiritual, and social resources.

George D. Chryssides asserts that not all new religious movements have charismatic leaders, and that there are differences in the hegemonic styles among those movements that do.

Narcissism

Len Oakes, an Australian psychologist who wrote a dissertation on charisma, had eleven charismatic leaders complete a psychometric test he called the adjective checklist and found them, as a group, quite ordinary. Following the psychoanalyst Heinz Kohut, Oakes argues that charismatic leaders exhibit traits of narcissism and also displays an extraordinary amount of energy, accompanied by an inner clarity unhindered by the anxieties and guilt that afflict more ordinary people. He did, however, not fully adhere to Weber's framework of charismatic authority.

Comparison table

	Charismatic	Traditional	Legal-Rational
Type of ruler	Charismatic leader	Dominant personality	Functional superiors or bureaucratic officials
Position determined by	Having a dynamic personality	Established tradition or routine	Legally established authority
Ruled using	Extraordinary qualities and exceptional powers	Acquired or inherited (hereditary) qualities	Virtue of rationally established norms, decrees, and other rules and regulations
Legitimized by	Victories and success to community	Established tradition or routine	General belief in the formal correctness of these rules and those who enact them are considered a legitimized authority
Loyalty	Interpersonal & personal allegiance and devotion	Based on traditional allegiances	To authority/rules
Cohesion	Emotionally unstable and volatile	Feeling of common purpose	Abiding by rules (see Merton's theory of deviance)
Leadership	Rulers and followers (disciples)	Established forms of social conduct	Rules, not rulers

External links

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Charismatic_authority ]

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