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Follower-Power: A follower-centric approach to the social construction of prophetic leadership

Fiscella, Anthony LU (2007) In Nordic Journal of Religion and Society 20(1). p.95-113
Abstract
This article addresses the follower-centric examination of the social construction of prophetic leadership roles. The central questions are: In what ways can key follower figures potentially exert independent agency and influence within the charismatic relationship?; What role might they play in the establishment and maintenance of the social construction of prophetic leadership roles? To these ends, the article assesses the existing research in the area, lifts out relevant elements (such as the Swedish historian of religion Bengt Sundkler's distinction between leader, nucleus, and mass); and finally develops two original concepts: "first followers" and "follower-power". The latter of these is described through seven functional roles, each... (More)
This article addresses the follower-centric examination of the social construction of prophetic leadership roles. The central questions are: In what ways can key follower figures potentially exert independent agency and influence within the charismatic relationship?; What role might they play in the establishment and maintenance of the social construction of prophetic leadership roles? To these ends, the article assesses the existing research in the area, lifts out relevant elements (such as the Swedish historian of religion Bengt Sundkler's distinction between leader, nucleus, and mass); and finally develops two original concepts: "first followers" and "follower-power". The latter of these is described through seven functional roles, each with a corresponding power-type: "finders" (point-power), "devoters" (devotional power), "promoters" (storytelling power), "managers" (organizational power), "intermediaries" (intermediary power), "innovators" (creative power), and "supporters" (support-power). These concepts are then developed through the examination of existing sources (i.e. the Bible, historical material, etc.) and ultimately, the conclusion is drawn that, while the concepts seem to fit their purpose, too little research has been done in this area to make definitive remarks. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to specialist publication or newspaper
publication status
published
subject
keywords
social construction, religion, leadership, charisma, follower-centric, prophets
categories
Popular Science
in
Nordic Journal of Religion and Society
volume
20
issue
1
pages
95 - 113
publisher
Tapir akademisk forlag
ISSN
0809-7291
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: History and Anthropology of Religions (015017025)
id
2c801d24-75a8-4438-a476-ed54a01ecb9c (old id 3124965)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:59:31
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:08:23
@misc{2c801d24-75a8-4438-a476-ed54a01ecb9c,
  abstract     = {{This article addresses the follower-centric examination of the social construction of prophetic leadership roles. The central questions are: In what ways can key follower figures potentially exert independent agency and influence within the charismatic relationship?; What role might they play in the establishment and maintenance of the social construction of prophetic leadership roles? To these ends, the article assesses the existing research in the area, lifts out relevant elements (such as the Swedish historian of religion Bengt Sundkler's distinction between leader, nucleus, and mass); and finally develops two original concepts: "first followers" and "follower-power". The latter of these is described through seven functional roles, each with a corresponding power-type: "finders" (point-power), "devoters" (devotional power), "promoters" (storytelling power), "managers" (organizational power), "intermediaries" (intermediary power), "innovators" (creative power), and "supporters" (support-power). These concepts are then developed through the examination of existing sources (i.e. the Bible, historical material, etc.) and ultimately, the conclusion is drawn that, while the concepts seem to fit their purpose, too little research has been done in this area to make definitive remarks.}},
  author       = {{Fiscella, Anthony}},
  issn         = {{0809-7291}},
  keywords     = {{social construction; religion; leadership; charisma; follower-centric; prophets}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{95--113}},
  publisher    = {{Tapir akademisk forlag}},
  series       = {{Nordic Journal of Religion and Society}},
  title        = {{Follower-Power: A follower-centric approach to the social construction of prophetic leadership}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}