The Populist and the Parvenu: On the Continuing Relevance of Max Weber’s Account of Political Leadership

This chapter uses David Beetham’s study of the political writings of Max Weber as the starting point for an analysis of Weber’s views on plebiscitary leadership democracy and the role of parties and parliament. It then goes on to apply those views of Weber to the analysis of the phenomenon of contemporary populism. The conclusion of this analysis is that Weber’s views on the kind of political leadership required in mass democracy do not apply to populist leaders either of Weber’s time or in contemporary politics. Weber dismissed such leaders as ‘parvenus’ lacking in the sense of responsibility needed for serious political leadership in the modern world. The chapter concludes by summarising Beetham’s critique of Weber’s idea of charismatic leadership and Weber’s elitist perspective on modern mass democracy.