Salvatore Abbruzzese

Late modernity is characterized by a crisis of institutional power in term of civic action and civic behaviour. In general, the crisis of institutional ability to grant directives about social conduct has produced a strong disorder among subjects. Durkheimian condition of «anomie» is the authentic scenario of occidental society at the time of globalization. Present globalization is interlaced with crisis of social behaviour agencies and there is a trend considering historical model out-of-date. In this context charismatic power is finding a new place, out of any reference to supernatural gifts. The recognition of the bearer of charisma is here founded on a free choice by subjects. While main lines of political and civic institutions are weakly recognised, charismatic institutions have a moderate but increasing agreement. By this fact it is possible to change status of subject in sociological thought. However it is difficult to recognize subject as a simple rational choice actor or at the opposite as a whole socialized subject. The term of «persona» suggests a good issue across several types of rationality. It is this «persona» that accepts charismatic institutions, in spite of normative institutions, and chooses his membership out of instrumental rationality and out of behavioural socialization.