Charismatic leadership in foreign policy

Abstract Charismatic leadership is an integral yet understudied aspect of foreign policy in liberal democratic states. Combining insights from recent developments on charismatic organization and management studies with literature policy, we construct a novel theoretical framework for understanding how leaders exercise leadership. We argue that makes sense who ‘we’ are where going through communicative practices. specify these practices discuss why important analysis; what it is; sense-making matters style. contribute new empirical knowledge by probing our propositions comparative case-study the Donald Trump Angela Merkel. The case-studies illustrate importance communication both leaders, while disclosing variations ‘thickness’ their compatibility rational legal authority values.