In popular culture, the strongman’s brand of charisma is often depicted as a spellbinding force that makes people do his bidding. Yet theorist Max Weber made it clear a century ago that charisma, which he defined as the attribution of “supernatural, superhuman, or at least especially exceptional powers or qualities” to an “individual personality,” exists mostly in the eye of the beholder. Most strongmen have uncommon powers of persuasion. Their followers and collaborators are the ones to “make” their reputations, though, by acknowledging their abilities. This makes the leader’s charismatic
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