Popular Is Not Charismatic: Mark Carney and the Test of Following

Popular Is Not Charismatic

Mark Carney and the Test of Following

A comedian made “elbows up” Canada’s rallying cry before the prime minister did. The boycott groups had a million members before he adopted it. If the man at the front changed course, would you go with him?

In January, a Davos audience rose for Mark Carney. The next day, Donald Trump scolded him from the same stage, and at home his approval climbed. Commentators called it Carneymania. This essay tests the word against sociology’s definition of charisma: not a personality but something an audience does to a person, with a final step admiration never reaches.

🧭 Mark Durieux’s four-step mechanism, ending in social election, places Carney one step short. Columnists, foreign leaders, pollsters, and above all, Trump built him into the adult in the room. The mission was the public’s before it was his, and nobody has followed him. The essay calls that charismatic candidacy.

⚖️ The other side gets a full hearing: a 24-point gap between approval of Carney and the belief the country is on the right track, and Liberal voters who stayed as he went from climate envoy to pipeline builder. The following test stays open, and the essay says what would close it.

🏗️ Crisis standing is being spent on permanent change. Bill C-39 would make the project fast-track permanent, and nine First Nations have taken the law to court.

🔎 Admired or Followed? Four questions for any leader or influencer. The last: if they changed sides, would you go with them?

For readers who have watched a leader’s numbers climb and wondered what they measured. Finished days before Alberta’s October 19 referendum, it tells nobody how to vote. Includes three discussion questions for a circle.

Download Popular Is Not Charismatic now and run the four questions on the next leader you are asked to admire.

Want to talk about it? How about starting a community conversation circle to discuss this article with family, friends, and other curious learners from all walks of life? https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/fdc844a1-9921-4d7a-afff-37fb8f65b311 Got an idea for a conversation starter but don’t see anything related on this PayHip site? Reach out to Mark. He’ll be happy to put together an article for you at no cost -- mbdurieux@gmail.com. However, first come, first served.

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