Legitimacy

Legitimacy

  • Refers to an actor or action being commonly acceptable
  • Provides rationale for governments exercising power over others
  • Most common form is democracy; the governed have a defined period to choose who will exercise power over them

3 Aspects That Legitimize a State/Leader/Government

    Performance and Prosperity

  • Delivery of service to the people

    Accountability and Transparency

  • Free and open elections
  • Responsive to citizens needs

    Force

  • Sustaining power through force

Authoritarian States Must Legitimize Their Ruling

  • Common vision or goal
  • Backed by religious/ideological commitments
  • More focus on “performance” to legitimize themselves

3 Reasons for Legitimacy to be Questioned

  • Corruption
  • Poor communication
  • Perceptions of failure/ineffectiveness
    • Common with authoritarian states
    • “If they bring no results, why are they there?”

Failed States

  • Failure to monopolize the use of force
  • No longer able to operate as viable political units
  • Lack a credible system of law and order
  • Incapable of providing for citizens