<strong>Searching</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Truth ⎯ PUBLIC DEBATE his genteel charisma, combined with simple taste, a good education and staunch hatred <strong>of</strong> corruption, had a broad appeal to certain segments <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>n society, particularly <strong>the</strong> students and <strong>the</strong> peasants. “<strong>Cambodia</strong>ns who came into his presence found him charismatic because he embodied <strong>the</strong> ideals <strong>of</strong> conductself-control, ...kind-heartedness⎯that had been drummed into <strong>the</strong>m <strong>for</strong> years” (Chandler, 1999, p. 151). People who were not brought up in this social context may find Pol Pot exasperating and hypocritical. However, how non-followers perceive a leader has very little relevance to <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> charisma. Pol Pot and his ideals represented <strong>the</strong> good virtues (i.e., social and economic equity, anti-corruption) desired by <strong>the</strong> average <strong>Cambodia</strong>n. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>the</strong> traditional authority represented all evil <strong>for</strong>ces⎯ social contaminants⎯infecting <strong>Cambodia</strong>n society, which <strong>the</strong> people wanted, but were not able, to eliminate on <strong>the</strong>ir own. In this respect, <strong>the</strong> people, who came to share his view about <strong>Cambodia</strong>n social order and its problems at that time, regarded Pol Pot as someone who had solved <strong>for</strong> himself problems that <strong>the</strong>y had not been able to solve <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>mselves. These people had endured years <strong>of</strong> “narcissistic injuries” at <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own government. They looked to Pol Pot to bring <strong>the</strong>m toge<strong>the</strong>r in order to bring about changes in <strong>Cambodia</strong>n social order to improve <strong>the</strong> basic living conditions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor and uneducated. The peasants’ acceptance <strong>of</strong> this view laid <strong>the</strong> foundation <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>n Communist movement to eventually achieve victory. <strong>Cambodia</strong>n peasants were willing to take up arms and sacrifice <strong>the</strong>ir lives in open military conflicts against what <strong>the</strong>y perceived to be <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> evil. <strong>Cambodia</strong>n peasants, within <strong>Cambodia</strong>n social, economic and political structures, were treated as <strong>the</strong> ruled, and were never part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ruling circle. Pol Pot identified with and raised <strong>the</strong> self-esteem <strong>of</strong> his followers (<strong>Cambodia</strong>n peasants) when <strong>the</strong> ruling elites looked at <strong>the</strong> peasants with contempt and disdain. He raised <strong>the</strong>ir self-esteem by <strong>Documentation</strong> <strong>Center</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong> (DC-Cam) Number <strong>28</strong>, April 2002 allowing <strong>the</strong>m to play active roles in determining <strong>the</strong> political future <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>. By participating in <strong>the</strong> armed struggle against <strong>the</strong> corrupt regime, <strong>the</strong>se peasants were led to feel that <strong>the</strong>y, <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> first time in <strong>Cambodia</strong>’s history, had an opportunity to affect <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> history. The peasants viewed active participation in <strong>Cambodia</strong>’s political process as <strong>the</strong> ultimate <strong>for</strong>m <strong>of</strong> gratification. Pol Pot exhibited <strong>the</strong> qualities and characteristics <strong>of</strong> a charismatic leader. He was able to communicate his messages in simple terms and he usually spoke with complete candor. His message to <strong>the</strong> people, his deeds, and his way <strong>of</strong> life rein<strong>for</strong>ced <strong>the</strong> image <strong>of</strong> a man who was incorruptible and who cared passionately about <strong>the</strong> poor. He was a man with broad empathic capacity <strong>for</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>n peasants. When he spoke <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> corrupt government, people accepted his message readily because <strong>the</strong>y, too, saw corruption with <strong>the</strong>ir own eyes. When he spoke <strong>of</strong> his vision <strong>of</strong> a new society free from all corruption, people were eager to embrace this vision. He instilled confidence in his followers and was able to inspire <strong>the</strong>m to rise up and fight against “<strong>the</strong> enemy.” Conclusion As suggested by David P. Chandler in his political biography <strong>of</strong> Pol Pot entitled Bro<strong>the</strong>r Number One, Pol Pot or Saloth Sar belonged among <strong>the</strong> visionary leaders <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>n history - a history filled with prolonged exploitations by <strong>for</strong>eign powers from near and far. At some stage in his life, he reacted against <strong>the</strong> subservience and quietude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>n people. The traditional authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>n royal family and its indolence depressed him. In <strong>the</strong> 1950s, he came to see communism as a set <strong>of</strong> empowering and liberating techniques that could be applied to <strong>Cambodia</strong> to remove <strong>the</strong> traditional authority, social and economic injustice, and subservience. The crucial role to be played by intellectuals like Pol Pot in this process was <strong>the</strong> inclusion <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong>’s peasants as <strong>the</strong> main instrument, <strong>the</strong> means with which social trans<strong>for</strong>mation could be achieved. His charisma 39 100 100 100 100 100 100 50 50 50 50 Black Yellow Magenta Cyan
100 100 100 100 100 100 50 50 50 50 Black Yellow Magenta Cyan Number <strong>28</strong>, April 2002 40 <strong>Searching</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Truth ⎯ PUBLIC DEBATE <strong>Documentation</strong> <strong>Center</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambodia</strong> (DC-Cam)