ABSTRACT
Our common sense tells us that leaders and their decisions matter, but our social science theories tell us that constraints determine major societal outcomes. Concerned about this disconnect, Seymour Martin Lipset has suggested that the consolidation of American democracy would have been impossible had George Washington not consciously and judiciously deployed his charisma to mobilize support for the new republic at its most fragile moment.2 Following Weber, Professor Lipset uses Washington’s success to argue that charismatic leaders can play an “indispensable” role in consolidating fledgling democracies.3 In particular, by inspiring trust, Washington helped the United States form its identity and institutionalize its competitive electoral system. Professor Lipset codes this as a victory for agency, reminding us that individuals can be important independent variables. He exposes how much we have to gain by exploring the space for leaders and for the strategic, tactical, and moral choices they make-or fail to make.
