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Stalin the charismatic leader?: Explaining the 'Cult of Personality' as a legitimation technique

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 09:17 authored by Strong, C, Matthew KillingsworthMatthew Killingsworth
This article reassesses Stalin's attempts to construct legitimacy through the development of a 'cult of personality', built through an overt co-option of the charismatic authority generated by Lenin's revolutionary leadership. While seemingly counterintuitive, it will be argued that Max Weber's theory of charismatic authority offers a constructive tool with which to examine Stalin's attempt to construct legitimacy through the creation of the 'cult of personality'. Through the application of routinised charisma, Stalin's attempts at legitimation are not only better understood, but also present further avenues for exploring non-democratic legitimation techniques through the use of modern media.

History

Publication title

Politics, Religion and Ideology

Volume

12

Issue

4

Pagination

391-411

ISSN

2156-7689

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Routledge

Place of publication

UK

Rights statement

Copyright 2011 Taylor & Francis.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Political systems

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