Date of Award

7-1-2003

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MADI Diplomacy & International Relations

Department

Diplomacy

Advisor

Assefaw Bariagaber

Keywords

Diplomacy, Vision, Charisma, Leadership

Abstract

This study examined the significance of vision and charisma as the two pertinent characteristics that explain the difference in the degree of commitment of followers. The following hypotheses were proposed: (1) Leaders who espouse a more inclusive vision are more likely to mobilize highly committed followers; and (2) Leaders who are more charismatic are more likely to mobilize highly committed followers. ' Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the Independence Movement in India, specifically, Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Stokely Carmichael, Mohandas Gandhi, Abul Kalam Azad, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah were assessed. Two orations and one written document presented by each leader were evaluated. Each selection was rated using three questionnaires: Vision Inclusiveness Questionnaire, Leadership Charisma Questionnaire, and Follower Commitment Questionnaire. After compiling the results of the questionnaires and conducting statistical analysis, charisma alone was determined to explain 95.1 % of the commitment of followers, whereas vision was only able to explain 3.8%. In effect, charisma was found to be the most important variable by far.

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