Sundahl Anne-Mette Holmgård
School of History Philosophy, Politics & International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Int J Polit Cult Soc. 2022 May 4:1-28. doi: 10.1007/s10767-022-09423-0.
This paper introduces a theoretical model for distinguishing between mere popularity and personality cults as there currently is an inflated use of the personality cult concept, especially in news media, attaching it to significantly different phenomena. The model is based on Weber's concept of charismatic authority and consists of three parameters, widespread symbolic elevation, resilience and religious parallels, covering a representational and social practice dimension. Both dimensions are needed to constitute a personality cult. Trump, Putin and Ardern are used as examples of the model's ability to distinguish between cult and non-cult phenomena. The comparison shows that only Trump and Putin have a cult on both dimensions. Mere popular politicians like Ardern are more comparable to celebrities as these do not have the same authority and power over the followers as leaders with a personality cult - despite potentially showing some cultlike tendencies on the representational dimension. Popular politicians are thus especially characterised by lacking the key social practice aspect of personality cults. As they might still exhibit some cultlike characteristics, the different phenomena are best perceived as being on a continuum ranging from mere admiration or popularity to a personality cult.
本文介绍了一个理论模型，用于区分单纯的受欢迎程度和个人崇拜，因为目前个人崇拜概念被过度使用，尤其是在新闻媒体中，人们将其与截然不同的现象联系起来。该模型基于韦伯的魅力型权威概念，由广泛的象征性提升、韧性和宗教类比这三个参数组成，涵盖了表征和社会实践维度。构成个人崇拜需要这两个维度。特朗普、普京和阿德恩被用作该模型区分崇拜现象和非崇拜现象能力的例子。比较表明，只有特朗普和普京在两个维度上都存在个人崇拜。像阿德恩这样单纯受欢迎的政治家更类似于名人，因为他们对追随者没有像具有个人崇拜的领导人那样的权威和权力——尽管在表征维度上可能表现出一些类似崇拜的倾向。因此，受欢迎的政治家的特别之处在于缺乏个人崇拜关键的社会实践方面。由于他们可能仍然表现出一些类似崇拜的特征，最好将不同的现象视为处于一个连续体上，范围从单纯的钦佩或受欢迎到个人崇拜。
