Charisma Leadership with Chinese Characteristics: The Influences of Charisma Culture on Leadership and Movement Processes in Qing China's Heterodox Rebellions

Zhen Wei, University of Edinburgh

While scholars recognise the impact of charisma culture on leaders, its cross-cultural variations have not been carefully investigated. This paper examines the influence of culture on charismatic leadership through three heterodox religious rebellions in Qing dynasty China, late 18th to early 19th centuries, by using communications of rebels as recorded in over 500 confessions. These cases offer an opportunity to observe the variations in charismatic leadership across different cultures, as China at that time was less influenced by ideologies originating from modern Europe. Reading through the lens that these confessions were constructed by interrogators, rebels, and state power, I suggest that charisma culture in these rebellions was a "strong culture," Such culture featured explicit descriptions of the origins, forms, and validation of charismatic leadership, central to elucidating movement goals, mobilisation, and solidarity. This culture, diverging from the "good versus evil" narrative of previous studies, is "fatalistic," emphasising predestined leaders guiding followers through destined tribulations towards victory. In this culture, leaders' charisma is derived mainly from adherence to specific cultural scripts rather than personal characteristics. This culture enabled leaders to easily mobilise followers into high-risk activities. However, it also required leaders to avoid direct communication to maintain charisma, affecting the sustainability of their charisma. This became a crucial reason for the rapid emergence of the rebellions and the subsequent disappearance of heterodox religious ideas. The paper also suggests that this charisma culture still somewhat influences contemporary China. Max Weber noted differences between Chinese and European charismatic leaders. However, scholars, including Weber, have not fully revealed how these cultural variations in charisma culture impact leaders, and processes, of contentious politics. This paper clarifies these impacts and proposes that the influence of cultural differences might be very significant, suggesting a need to carefully consider these impacts.

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 Presented in Session 201. Sources and Uses of Power in Chinese Politics