Max Weber considered that social change is achievable by two different ways. The first way is when a charismatic leader, with extraordinary skills, changes the establishment (Allan, 2008). The second way is when people question the legitimacy of the system because they do not trust it anymore (Allan, 2008). However, it is the combination of both that could generate changes. Charismatic authority needs the awareness, comprehension, and participation of a large portion of society, in other words, it needs that most part of the people become critical about the legitimacy of the current system. When these two forces (a charismatic leader and a general critique of the system) act together, social change is truly achievable.
Can charismatic leaders change traditional or rational-legal authority only with their wonderful skills or do they need support from their people?
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According to Weber, the charismatic leader may or may not have 'wonderful' attributes. That is, a charismatic leader is one which a group of individuals/disciples define as being charismatic "irrespective of whether he or she actually possesses any outstanding traits" (Ritzer 2008). Evidently, a leader has need of followers. What is more, I believe charismatic leaders may produce change, however, as Weber states, charisma quickly becomes routinized and either becomes traditional or rational legal authority. Thus, a main objective of the charismatic leader and his disciples is to maintain continuous "dynamism" (Ritzer 2008). That is, a charismatic leader has to continue to transform the minds and practices of people to stimulate change.
ReplyDeleteCharismatic leaders can do nothing without the support of their people. It is the support of their people that makes them "charismatic" anyway. And I agree with LeNa that a leader might not even have "wonderful skills." Therefore, it is not the charismatic leader her/himself that leads to change, but the people's belief in the charismatic leader that does.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. Think of Pope John Paul II, Barack Obama, The Dalai Lama , Arnold Schwarzeneger, authority figures holding a support network behind them.
ReplyDeletei have to say that i agree with the three of you, it is not enough for someone to be charismatic if the guy is on his own, if that is the case then, who is going to be there to tell him or her that he is charismatic enoguht to make some significant changes?. These people need their people on their side to follow them and back them up in order for them to be significant enough to make crucial changes and really fulfill their charismatic authority
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