- The Oxford Handbook of the Radical Right
- Acknowledgments
- Contributors
- The Radical Right: An Introduction
- The Radical Right and Nationalism
- The Radical Right and Islamophobia
- The Radical Right and Antisemitism
- The Radical Right and Populism
- The Radical Right and Fascism
- The Radical Right and Euroskepticism
- Explaining Electoral Support for the Radical Right
- Party Systems and Radical Right-Wing Parties
- Gender and the Radical Right
- Globalization, Cleavages, and the Radical Right
- Party Organization and the Radical Right
- Charisma and the Radical Right
- Media and the Radical Right
- The Non-Party Sector of the Radical Right
- The Political Impact of the Radical Right
- The Radical Right as Social Movement Organizations
- Youth and the Radical Right
- Religion and the Radical Right
- Radical Right Cross-National Links and International Cooperation
- Political Violence and the Radical Right
- The Radical Right in France
- The Radical Right in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
- The Radical Right in Belgium and the Netherlands
- The Radical Right in Southern Europe
- The Radical Right in the United Kingdom
- The Radical Right in the Nordic Countries
- The Radical Right in Eastern Europe
- The Radical Right in Post-Soviet Russia
- The Radical Right in Post-Soviet Ukraine
- The Radical Right in the United States of America
- The Radical Right in Australia
- The Radical Right in Israel
- The Radical Right in Japan
- Index
Abstract and Keywords
Although the concept of “charismatic” leaders is commonplace in political discourse, many academics hold that the notion is vague and these leaders’ alleged appeal to voters untestable. This chapter sets out a conceptualization of such leaders, focusing on radical mission, personal presence, symbiotic hierarchy, and Manichean demonization. It then considers four broad theories about why charismatic leaders have notable effects (and why the radical right gathers support): socioeconomic change and crisis, political opportunity structures, cultural legitimation, and psychological affinities. While it is important not to overstate the powers of most leaders, the chapter concludes by arguing that we need to appreciate the role of “coterie” charisma over an inner core, helping to keep parties together. Moreover, charismatic leaders exert a centripetal appeal, particularly to authoritarians and/or those least interested in politics, creating a more differentiated following than the affective bond stressed in the classic Weberian model.
Keywords: charismatic leaders, political leaders, radical right party organization, leadership, right-wing politicians
Roger Eatwell is Emeritus Professor of Politics as the University of Bath. He has written widely on both historical fascism and the contemporary extreme and populist rights. Recent publications include the chapter “Fascism” in the Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies (2013), “Fascism and Racism” in the Oxford Handbook of the History of Nationalism (2013), and “Populism and Fascism” in the Oxford Handbook of Populism (2017). He is currently writing a book with Matthew Goodwin for Penguin on national populism.
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- The Oxford Handbook of the Radical Right
- Acknowledgments
- Contributors
- The Radical Right: An Introduction
- The Radical Right and Nationalism
- The Radical Right and Islamophobia
- The Radical Right and Antisemitism
- The Radical Right and Populism
- The Radical Right and Fascism
- The Radical Right and Euroskepticism
- Explaining Electoral Support for the Radical Right
- Party Systems and Radical Right-Wing Parties
- Gender and the Radical Right
- Globalization, Cleavages, and the Radical Right
- Party Organization and the Radical Right
- Charisma and the Radical Right
- Media and the Radical Right
- The Non-Party Sector of the Radical Right
- The Political Impact of the Radical Right
- The Radical Right as Social Movement Organizations
- Youth and the Radical Right
- Religion and the Radical Right
- Radical Right Cross-National Links and International Cooperation
- Political Violence and the Radical Right
- The Radical Right in France
- The Radical Right in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
- The Radical Right in Belgium and the Netherlands
- The Radical Right in Southern Europe
- The Radical Right in the United Kingdom
- The Radical Right in the Nordic Countries
- The Radical Right in Eastern Europe
- The Radical Right in Post-Soviet Russia
- The Radical Right in Post-Soviet Ukraine
- The Radical Right in the United States of America
- The Radical Right in Australia
- The Radical Right in Israel
- The Radical Right in Japan
- Index