Charisma and Emergent Social Movements
6 - 7 November 2008
Senate Chamber, Academic Building, Groningen
The Institute of Biography of the University of Groningen and the International Institute of Social History are currently organising an international conference about the role of charisma in the rise of the so-called key figures in emergent social movements. What insights do the comparison of social movements and their leaders from the nineteenth century with those of the twentieth century, and those from Europe with those from other continents, have to offer? Why was there a rapid Veralltäglichung (routinisation) with respect to Lech Walesa, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva and the Dutch social democratic leader Pieter Jelles Troelstra (1860-1930), while this was apparently not the case or only occurred more slowly as far as Patrice Lumumba, Hugo Chávez, Mao Zedong and Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, the radical patriarch of Dutch socialism, are concerned?
The organisers believe that such a conference will meet a real demand. There has been a consistent lack of historical and trans-cultural theory on charismatic leadership in the discourse that surrounds the development of social movements. While it is true to say that we have Weber’s approach at our disposal, just like those of Robert Michels and later research into social movements, it is dominated by a political scientific and sociological perspective. The conference aims to put Weber’s theory of charisma to the test; historically and trans-culturally.
More information in the flyer Charisma (.pdf, 5.7 Mb)
How to register
The cost of participation: € 30,- (two days),
students € 15,- (two days), or € 20,- per day.
You can register by sending an e-mail to and transfering the registration fee, indicating the day(s) on which you are coming.
Account nr. 97.85.93.197, Biografie Instituut, Groningen
iban nl 97 ftsb 0978 5931 97
bic ftsbnl2r
Programme
Thursday 6 November
Moderator: Gerrit Voerman
Chairman Documentation Centre Dutch Political Parties
| 10:30 | Coffee and registration |
| 11:00 | Word of welcome by Jan Willem Stutje |
| 11:15 | Juan Avilés, Pasionaria Comments: Christoph Twickel |
| 12:00 | Michael Krätke, Ferdinand Lassalle - A Knight of Labour in Shining Armour Comments: Carl Levy |
| 12:45 | Lunch |
| 13:45 | Jean Omasombo, Patrice Lumumba, rebellious and obstinate Comments: Lindie Korf |
| 14:30 | Henk te Velde, Charismatic Leaders, Political Religion and Social Movements at the End of the 19th Century Comments: Jan Willem Stutje |
| 15:15 | Short break |
| 15:30 | Jan Willem Stutje, Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis. Leadership between unbridled revolt and disciplined protest Comments: Homme Wedman (lecturer University of Groningen) |
| 16:15 | Roel Meijer, Osama bin Laden, Charismatic Leadership and the Global Media Comments: Touraj Atabaki |
| 17:00 | Conclusions by Marc Reynebeau |
| 17:30 | Drinks |
Friday 7 November
Moderator: Moderator: Dirk Jan Wolffram
Professor of Contemporary History, University of Groningen
| 10:00 | Coffee and registration |
| 10:30 | Word of welcome by Jan Willem Stutje |
| 10:45 | Arif Dirlik, Mao Zedong and the Question of Charisma Comments: Dilip Simeon |
| 11:30 | Lindie Korf, An unlikely charismatic leader. D.F. Malan in a Weberian light Comments: Jean Omasombo |
| 12:15 | Lunch |
| 13:45 | Carl Levy, Errico Malatesta Comments: Michael Krätke |
| 14:30 | Christoph Twickel, Hugo Chávez Comments: Juan Avilés |
| 15:15 | Short break |
| 15:30 | Dilip Simeon, Gandhi Comments: Arif Dirlik |
| 16:15 | Touraj Atabaki, Apocalyptic Culture and the Emergence of Charismatic Agency in Persinate World Comments: Henk te Velde |
| 17:00 | Conclusions by Marc Reynebeau |