The Charismatic Principle in an American and Democratic Context

Abstract

Many movements inspired by charismatic leaders have had great influence on American culture and society. The paper will examine three leaders and the movements they led: Eugene Debs and Democratic Socialism, Dorothy Day and Catholic Personalism, and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Christian Nonviolence. In particular the paper will examine the charismatic messages, the charismatic leaderships, the social movement or movements inspired by this charismatic message and leader, the cultural impact of message and movement, the response of institutions, particularly economic and governmental institutions, and, finally, the history of principles and associations after the departure of the leader. The paper will end with reflections about the implications of this study (and related studies of charisma in American history) for Catholic social teaching and social and pastoral action, in the USA.