POLITICAL

CHARISMA

09011536 Leung Yuen Kwan Joan

09008993 Lo Po Yin Bowie

POLS3620 Contemporary Europe and Asia

Origins:What does “charisma” exactly mean?

CHARISMA “Favor given” – TWO senses (Greek:

χαρισμα) An ideal type of supernatural authority

(Weber) A chic synonym for “popular” (Schlesinger)

As for the word “political”…

Greek: πολιτικός "of, for, or relating to citizens“

Running governmental or state affairs

Social relations involving use of authority or power

So far…

GOTTA SEE FOR YOURSELF!

Mohandas Karamchand Gan

dhi 

Yukio Hatoyama 

STAGEONE

THE

“E.T.”

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Vladimir Putin

STAGETWO

THE “KING

”

Winston Churchill

Charles de Gaulle

STAGETHREE

THE

“WAR-TIME

HERO”

Wen Jiabao Donald Tsang

STAGEFOUR

“

THE ATTACK

ED

”

Similarities

[Behavioral attributes]

• Strong presence – First impression matters!• Self-confident

• Clear verbal articulation• Make good use of occasional pauses

• Sensitive to the environment• Strong desire to influence others

EUROPE ASIA

Why such similarities?

SIMILAR APPROACH: Gain people’s support via a

consistent exhibition of charming and sophisticated behaviors

Political charisma is an innate talent

Differences

EUROPE ASIA

Formal dress code Simple dress code• Formal only in

international events

Aggressive impression Friendly impression

Appeal to supporters Appeal to the deprived

Use a wide range of rhetorical devices• Sound pattern: Assonance,

alliteration• “Rule of Three”• Hyperbole (exaggeration)• Rhetorical question• Emotive language

Relatively use less rhetorical devices

Why so different?

EUROPE ASIA

The way you dress as a unit for measuring level of respect

Behavior overrides dress code

Aggressiveness largely derives from the Western value of “I have a right to…”

Friendliness largely derives from the Asian value of harmony

Emphasis on how powerful they are and how much they can do for their people• More is MORE

Emphasis on using peaceful means to achieve what’s best for their people• Less is MORE

Tendency toward sugar-coating and packaging

Tendency toward down-to-earth• Make a point directly• Less sugar-coating

Impact on our lives

Results in relatively strong and unchallenged levels of obedience among the populace

Useful in difficult times or circumstances, such as economic downturn and wartime

Boosts the effectiveness of leadership

Inspired by rhetorical ability

References

12manage. “Charismatic Leadership (Weber).” Accessed November 4, 2011. http://www.12manage.com/methods_weber_charismatic_leadership.html.

New Mexico State University, College of Business. “Charisma.” Accessed November 1, 2011. http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/teaching/338/charisma.htm.

TIME. “Full List – Top 25 Political Icons.” Accessed November 2, 2011. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2046285,00.html.

Zernike, Kate. “The Charisma Mandate.” The New York Times. February 17, 2008. Accessed November 2, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/weekinreview/17zernike.html?pagewanted=all.

鞠德風 . 魅力領導的形成理論、作用和影響 - 一個整合性觀點 . 復興崗學報 (2007), 民 97, 92 期 , 439-458. Accessed November 3, 2011. http://www.mnd.gov.tw/Upload/200901/9218.pdf.