Abstract
Every theory of political leadership supposes some notion of the behaviour and capacities of the led. Max Weber' theory of leader-democracy rested on a particular notion of the ‘masses’. Weber depicted these masses as irrational and emotional, and thus incapable of active, extensive participation in political life. The article challenges the empirical and logical bases of Weber' view.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 242-265 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Economy and Society |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 1990 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Versions of this article were read as seminar papers to the Department of Sociology, University of Edinburgh, and the Department of Sociology, Queen's University, Kingston (Ontario).Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'The ‘masses’ in Weber’s political sociology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Cite this
BAEHR, P. (1990). The ‘masses’ in Weber’s political sociology. Economy and Society, 19(2), 242-265. https://doi.org/10.1080/03085149000000008