ABSTRACT
Charisma is a key concept that plays a critical role in Max Weber’s sociology, yet it is often misunderstood and misused. This chapter explains what Weber thought charisma was and how it functioned. I trace Weber’s theological sources for his notion of charisma and explain how it fits into his political philosophy. I investigate Weber’s foundation for his insistence that charisma and rationality were the two major powers and I explain his claim for the permanence of the former and why the latter is fleeting. I discuss the difficulties with his concept of charisma and how Weber’s conception has been used and abused in modern culture.
