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Democracy and Legitimacy
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An easy to read summary of chapter four of Andrew Heywood's Politics
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Introduction to Political Science
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DEMOCRACY AND LEGITIMACYLEGITIMACY AND POLITICAL STABILITY
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Although states may enjoy monopoly of coercive power, they seldom remain in
existence through the exercise of force alone
However, states seek legitimacy over the use of force, by turning might into right, and
obedience to duty
Legitimacy is thus often the key to political stability. And its the source of a regime’s
survival and success
Democracy is sometimes viewed as the only meaningful form of legitimacy
Legitimacy - Definition
Legitimare – to declare lawful; rightfulness
If something is legitimate, it is authoritative and binding; it orders you to do something –
example?
It transfers power into authority
Power: the ability to do something / achieve a desired outcome
Authority: the right to do something; legitimate power
Hence, most governments seek authority to make its rule legitimate
When a government is legitimate; it may demand obedience from citizens
Thus, people will be willing to comply with the system of rule regardless of how it is
achieved
In any regime, we find political obligation – citizens are obligated to obey the laws
,Legitimising Power
Power is legitimised through authority, and obedience is better achieved through
legitimacy
Three Types of Authority
1. Traditional Authority
Based on long-established customs and traditions
Seen as legitimate because it has ‘always existed’
Sanctified in history as earlier generations accepted it
Operate according to set rules
Fixed and unquestionable customs that do not need to be justified
Examples:
Amongst tribes and small groups of patriarchalism and gerontocracy
Monarchies like UK – help to shape political culture by holding on to values like
duty and respect
2. Charismatic Authority
Based on the power of an individual’s personality – charisma (p.83)
Authority operates through the capacity of the leader to make an appeal to followers as
a kind of hero
Owe nothing to person’s status, social position or office
, Consequences of charismatic authority
Authority has no limits as it is not based on rules; leader become an
unquestionable Messiah and masses become submissive disciples
Difficult for system of rule to outlive the founding figure seeing that authority is
linked to a charismatic individual
Examples: Napoleon, Hitler, Castro, Gadhafi
3. Legal-rational
Links authority to a clearly and legally defined set of rules
Operates in most modern states
The power of a leader is determined by formal, constitutional rules (can limit what he /
she may do)
Advantage:
Attach authority to an office rather than a person; less likely to be abused
Maintains limited government and promotes efficiency through rational division of
labour
Disadvantage
Depersonalised and inhuman social environment typified by relentless spread of
bureaucratic forms of organisation
Legitimation Crisis And Revolutions (alternative to Weber)
Problem with Legitimacy: because there are different class systems, it is difficult to
maintain legitimacy
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