Charismatic legitimacy

Definition

Charismatic legitimacy is a form of authority where the right to rule is based on the personal qualities and charisma of the leader, inspiring loyalty and devotion in followers. It often arises in situations where traditional or legal-rational authority structures are absent or have broken down.

Related terms

Traditional Authority: Power legitimized by long-established cultural patterns and societal norms.

Legal: Rational Authority - A system of authority based on legal, impersonal rules that have been officially enacted by an organization or government.

Political Culture: The set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments which give order and meaning to a political process and provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern behavior in the political system