11.1.4: Charismatic Authority
A few centuries back, in 1429, the English controlled large parts of France. When they prevented the coronation of a new French king, a farmer’s daughter heard a voice telling her that God had a special assignment for her—that she should put on men’s clothing, recruit an army, and go to war against the English.
Inspired, Joan of Arc—still a teenager—raised an army, conquered cities, and defeated the English. Later that year, her visions were fulfilled as she stood next to Charles VII while he was crowned king of France. (Bridgwater 1953) Joan of Arc is an example of charismatic authority, the third type of authority Weber identified. (Charisma is a Greek word that means a gift freely and graciously given [Arndt and Gingrich 1957].)
People are drawn to a charismatic individual because they believe that individual has been touched by God or has been endowed by nature with exceptional qualities. The armies did not follow Joan of Arc because it was the custom to do so, as in traditional authority. Nor did they risk their lives fighting alongside her because she held a position defined by written rules, as in rational–legal authority. Instead, people followed her because they were attracted by her outstanding traits. They saw her as a messenger of God, fighting on the side of justice, and they accepted her leadership because of these appealing qualities. The Threat Posed by Charismatic Leaders Kings and queens owe allegiance to tradition, and presidents to written laws. To what, however, do charismatic leaders owe allegiance? Their authority resides in their ability to attract followers, which is often based on their sense of a special mission or calling. Not tied to tradition or the regulation of law, charismatic leaders pose a threat to the established political order. Following their personal goals, charismatic leaders can inspire followers to disregard—or even to overthrow—traditional and rational–legal authorities. Gallery Two Types of Charismatic Authority Image Viewer Preview Hens14e Ch15 - Gallery:
Two Types of Charismatic Authority
One of the best examples of charismatic authority is Joan of Arc, a teenager who changed the history of France. This engraving from the 1800s shows her liberating Orleans from the British in 1429.
View Gallery Credits: DEA/SEEMULLER/De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images; VintageCorner/Alamy Stock Photo This threat does not go unnoticed, and traditional and rational–legal authorities often oppose charismatic leaders. If they are not careful, however, their opposition can arouse even more positive sentiment in favor of the charismatic leader, who might be viewed as an underdog persecuted by the powerful. Occasionally, the Roman Catholic Church faces such a threat, as when a priest claims miraculous powers that appear to be accompanied by amazing healings. As people flock to this individual, they bypass parish priests and the formal ecclesiastical structure. This transfer of allegiance from the organization to an individual threatens the church hierarchy. Consequently, church officials may encourage the priest to withdraw from the public eye, perhaps to a monastery, to rethink matters. This defuses the threat, reasserts rational–legal authority, and maintains the stability of the organization.
- (of a place or people) having been overcome and taken control of by military force."a conquered people"
- en·dow/inˈdou,enˈdou/verbpast tense: endowed; past participle: endowed
- 1.provide with a quality, ability, or asset."he was endowed with tremendous physical strength"
No comments:
Post a Comment