Charismatic rule

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The term charismatic rule was coined in 1919 by the German sociologist Max Weber and describes the social relationship between a charismatic bearer (ruler) and a charismatic believer (people) in a ruling relationship.

concept

The bearer of charisma has a leadership position in charismatic rule, which gives him authority and authority and generates mass obedience. Belief in the charismatic remains tied to the perception that he is fulfilling the collective hopes placed in him (his task, his mission). The authority of the leader is based on unique personality traits, which lead to a high level of identification of those who believe in charism with the goals and visions of the bearer of the charism. If this identification is given, it can motivate those being led to extraordinary achievements or actions. A predominantly emotional and ideal leader-led relationship develops in which the led perceive themselves to be connected with their own collective as well as with the leader of this collective.

Rainer Lepsius

The model of charismatic rule was later further developed by the German sociologist Rainer Lepsius , who expanded it to include three situations :

  • latent charismatic situation,
  • manifest charismatic situation,
  • Structure of charismatic rule.

Latent charismatic situation

The latent charismatic situation is the prerequisite for a charismatic ruler to be accepted by the people or the masses. It is given, for example, when the people perceive a crisis and the actors responsible cannot cope with this crisis. The delegitimization of those responsible creates a power vacuum in which the people hope for the leadership of a “strong man”.

Latent charismatic situations:

  • 1925: Disorientation after the defeat in the First World War and the collapse of the monarchy. Charismatics: Hindenburg , "substitute emperor";
  • 1932/1933: Disorientation due to emergency decrees and social tensions caused by the economic crises of 1923 and 1929 (6 million unemployed). Charismatic: Hitler .

Manifest charismatic situation

The manifest charismatic situation occurs when a charismatic has gained the trust and faith of the population. The charismatic usually refers to:

  • final values such as "rescue from destruction", "survival", but not on the implementation of concrete solutions;
  • the hope for something new : example “Germany awake!” The euphematic determination mostly dominates the content of the statement;
  • the worldview of dualism . Example: "Civil War or NSDAP ".

Structure of charismatic rule

The charismatic does not allow any control of his actions, does not observe any procedures, does not correspond to role expectations and displaces all actors who want to limit his position through rules or a say. According to Max Weber , charismatic rule is still legitimate as long as the followers of the charismatic believe in his values ​​and virtues and his actions prove themselves.

Parallel to the rise of the charismatic ruler, there is a decline in institutionalization and social decision-making processes. The charismatic becomes the sole decision-making and leadership body that does not submit to any coalition or commitment to action. He has the sole monopoly on interpretation .

Rainer Lepsius raises the following problem: The genuine charisma, the direct relationship between charisma bearer and charisma believer, can no longer be established in a pluralistic state. Approach: The dissolution of formal coordination procedures (e.g. in the bureaucracy ) gives the charismatic the central role as a coordinating body . The charismatic also becomes the central authority of legitimation of the entire political system (example Hitler - Third Reich ).

A special manifestation is the “hereditary charism”, which is effective independently of the personal charisma, in the idea that charisma is a quality of the blood and therefore adheres to the clan of the original (real or fictional) charisma bearer. The original charisma of a dynasty founder thus radiates onto his descendants. Weber speaks of gentile charisma , the idea of ​​the special grace of a clan, and of hereditary charisma , the belief in the special talent of the firstborn. Both were at all times one of the conditions for the formation of the form of the hereditary monarchy , but are even more evident in electoral systems. Examples are the Julier in ancient Rome, the Tusculans , who provided eight popes from 931 to 1031, the Habsburgs as "eternal" elected emperors of the Holy Roman Empire or today the American families Kennedy , Clinton and Bush .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ M. Hauser: Theories of charismatic leadership. Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft, volume 69, issue 9, 1999 p. 1005.
  2. ↑ Hentze et al. a .: Personnel management theory - basics, functions and models of leadership. Bern 2005, p. 186.
  3. ↑ M. Rainer Lepsius : The model of charismatic rule and the applicability to the “Führer state” of Adolf Hitler. In: The same: Democracy in Germany. Göttingen 1993, pp. 95-118.
  4. ^ Max Weber : Economy and Society. 2nd part, 2nd half volume, Chapter IX: About the sociology of domination.