Mehmed Ali’s charisma derived from court theatricality, not inherent genius

Evidence

In other words, instead of proceeding to give an account of the Pasha’s rule in Egypt that would border on being a dictated autobiography (the way most other accounts were), St. John realized that the Pasha’s mesmerizing presence is ultimately connected with the power he holds; and that this power is essentially an effect not of the Pasha’s inherent genius, but of the elaborate mystique of his court ceremonials that attempt to impress the spectator into thinking that what goes on there is “not merely important but in some odd fashion connected with the way the world is built.” — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 68

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s previous work on how power is staged and perceived — e.g., the discussion of rites and ceremonies as state-building instruments.