This book explains in depth the nature of charismatic political leadership and the processes by which it comes into being. Willner deals with cultural myths, the importance of crisis, the relationship between sexual potency and political power, the role of oratory and political rhetoric, and features engrossing details from the careers of charismatic political leaders of the twentieth century.
What causes a group of people or an entire nation to fall under the spell of a leader? In this fascinating book, Willner explains the nature of charismatic political leadership and the processes by which it comes into being, illustrating her work with engrossing examples from the careers of such charismatic political leaders of the twentieth century as Gandhi, Sukarno, and Hitler.
"A manual for potential charismatic leaders. Candidates for President . . . would do well to refer to it. Ordinary citizens would do even better to read it, so they can recognize charismatic appeals that might mislead, as well as lead, our society."-- Bruce Mazlish, The New York Times Book Review
"Of exceptional value for social scientists and even administrators, this should also interest educated general readers. Highly recommended."-- David Steiniche, Library Journal
"An ingenious and useful book."-- Anatole Broyard, The New York Times
"A book of impeccable scholarly quality and of immensely rich and even exciting material."-- James MacGregor Burns, Williams College
"The book should be of wide interest, especially to those political leaders - many of them in the Third World - who see themselves as charismatic merely because they have acquired power."-- T. J. S. George, Asiaweek