The first thing that came to mind when I thought of charismatic authority and the charismatic leader was a social experiment called The Third Wave that occurred over the period of one week in California in 1967. In 2008, a German movie called Die Welle (The Wave) was released, basing the plot in a present day German high school. In The Third Wave a charismatic high school teacher started a simple experiment with his high school class teaching them rules and discipline, drills and proper seating, and standing up to speak while properly addressing the instructor. The classroom developed a sense of unity and created a special ‘salute’. The students were improving academically, and this was only over the course of a few days. By the fourth day of the experiment, the situation had gotten out of control for the high school teacher, as the movement had grown to over 200 students. After terminating this experiment, to the dismay of the large group of students, the instructor, Ron Jones, mentioned that the students had all taken part in an experiment in fascism, and showed them how easily impressionable people will follow the rules and commands of a charismatic leader.
This experiment makes me think of how easy it could be for this sort of authority to take hold in the present day. All it takes is one charismatic leader, and a compliant population, especially a population that is struggling economically, and just as we saw in The Third Wave, a movement can grow to over 200 people in a matter of days. However, we seem to see ourselves as educated people on the matter. A dictatorship in present day America? Not likely. However look at some of the communist countries in the world that have a so-called charismatic leader. North Korea is an interesting example of how charismatic authority can transform a country into a dictatorship, with an impressionable population at the hands of a leader who is revered as a God. Weber’s view on Charismatic authority is similar to a term called ‘cult of personality.’ Rather than being based on a religious entity, a cult of personality is based on a ‘charismatic leader’. However, a cult is still a cult, and we see this is modern day North Korea.
Now what can be said of charismatic authority on the other end of the spectrum, of a leader who is seen as a positive influence on the people? In our country we can definitely view President Obama as a ‘charismatic leader’. Obama comes across as a charming human being, with a sense of serenity and eloquent speech, which calms us to the very core. The Dalai Lama is another charismatic leader of our time, and a symbol of the struggle of Tibet. We also have individuals from recent history, such as Martin Luther King Jr., who led a massive movement in the name of equality, and John F. Kennedy, who the people admired and respected. What causes an authority figure to lead us towards peace and equality, or toward a fierce dictatorship and fascist regime? All of these individuals I’ve mentioned have or have had enough power to influence the people in any direction they see fit. All it takes is for power and authority to go to someone’s head to really cause a problem that may take decades to reverse.
Die Welle 2008 Trailer