Charismatic Leadership and Social Movements

The Revolutionary Power of Ordinary Men and Women

Jan Willem Stutje

• Publisher: Berghahn Books
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9780857453303
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: 20th Century History
• Index: History

Much of the writing on charisma focuses on specific traits associated with exceptional leaders, a practice that has broadened the concept of charisma to such an extent that it loses its distinctiveness – and therefore its utility. More particularly, the concept's relevance to the study of social movements has not moved beyond generalizations. The contributors to this volume renew the debate on charismatic leadership from a historical perspective and seek to illuminate the concept's relevance to the study of social movements. The case studies here include such leaders as Mahatma Gandhi; the architect of apartheid, Daniel F. Malan; the heroine of the Spanish Civil War, Dolores Ibarruri (la pasionaria); and Mao Zedong. These charismatic leaders were not just professional politicians or administrators, but sustained a strong symbiotic relationship with their followers, one that stimulated devotion to the leader and created a real group identity.

Table of contents

• Charismatic Leadership and Social Movements
• International Studies in Social History
• Contents
• List of Abbreviations
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction: Historiographical and Theoretical Aspects of Weber’s Concept of Charismatic Leadership
• I. The Charismatic Family
• Chapter 1: A New Kind of Force
• Chapter 2: An Unlikely Charismatic Leader
• Chapter 3: Bearded, Attractive and Beloved
• Chapter 4: Errico Malatesta and Charismatic Leadership
• Chapter 5: Pasionaria
• Chapter 6: Mao Zedong
• II. Charismatic Observations
• Chapter 7: Charismatic Leaders, Political Religion and Social Movements
• Chapter 8: ‘Je ne sais quoi’
• Chapter 9: Incendiary Personalities
• Bibliography
• Notes on Contributors
• Index