Legitimacy

Question 1

what is legitimacy?

Answer 1

the consent of the people to be governed; it refers to the whole regime, not just specific offices, and is not determined by the state

Question 2

why is legitimacy subjective

Answer 2

differing personal views and societal change

Question 3

regulations can be legal without being legitimate

Answer 3

south african apartheid laws

Question 4

civil disobedience can be seen as legitimate

Answer 4

non payment of the poll tax

Question 5

“legitimacy has nothing to do with moral or ethical ‘rightfulness’ of an action or request.” Why?

Answer 5

people obey because they accept that what the state is asking them to do is not beyond the bounds of reason or morally repugnant (even if they do not like it)

Question 6

sources of legitimacy (9)

Answer 6

tradition and habit
order and stability
religion
prosperity
assimilation
political formula
indoctrination
‘democracy’
consent

Question 7

tradition and habit as a source of legitimacy

Answer 7

a regime that has held power, without serious popular challenge, for a long time may claim legitimacy; people grow accustomed to the regime

Question 8

order and stability as a source of legitimacy

Answer 8

a regime that provides security and brings a measure of order to a country deserves to be treated as legitimate

Question 9

religion as a source of legitimacy

Answer 9

some islamic regimes (e.g. iran) believe that their rule is founded in religious belief

Question 10

prosperity as a source of legitimacy

Answer 10

economic stability and large scale employment provide key reasons for legitimacy due to the revenue allowing the state to provide essential services

Question 11

assimilation as a source of legitimacy

Answer 11

a strong degree of cultural integration, where sub-cultures do not feel alienated from the political system, contributes to legitimacy

Question 12

political formula as a source of legitimacy

Answer 12

where the political institutions fit with the political culture, there is likely to be legitimacy
e.g. the US supreme court aids the legitimacy of the US govt as it fits with the ideas of individual rights and anti-autocracy

Question 13

indoctrination as a source of legitimacy

Answer 13

thru manipulation of mass media and extensive propaganda the people can be led to believe and agree with the claim of a regime’s rulers, even if they are lies.

some say liberal democracies ‘manufacture consent’

Question 14

‘democracy’

Answer 14

use of the term democracy offers some legitimacy by suggesting that the regime has control of the state

Question 15

consent as a source of legitimacy

Answer 15

where the people have voted in free, honest, competitive and fair elections and the voter turnout is relatively high, a regime can be legitimised.

Question 16

indicators of legitimacy (11)

Answer 16

• smooth transitions of govt occur
• rule of law operates
• constitutional checks and balances are in place
• elected, responsive and accountable leadership
• opposition working within the constitutional framework
• strong levels of political participation within accepted channels (e.g. parties, local govt, const. pressure groups)
• support for political symbols (e.g. monarchy, constitution, flag, etc)
• ‘civilianised’ police force
• lack of civil disobedience (incl. payment of tax)
• low political violence
• free media

Question 17

problems with measuring legitimacy

Answer 17

• manipulation of information
• different political systems
• fear
• hidden dissent
• bias
• universalism
• indoctrination

Question 18

manipulation of info as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 18

figures (e.g. voter turnout and results) may be exaggerated to seem more favourable for the ruling party

Question 19

different political systems as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 19

support for a ruler may only be high due to the lack of opportunities for opposition

Question 20

fear as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 20

people may not vote or act a certain way as they fear consequences of doing so

Question 21

hidden dissent as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 21

there may be a lot of dissatisfaction with a regime, but it may not be manifested yet

Question 22

bias as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 22

the individual measuring legitimacy may have a select perception, not seeing things the way the group in question does

Question 23

universalism as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 23

not all people want the same things; forms of diff kinds of system may not be the same form region to region, and thus perception may be different

Question 24

indoctrination as a problem with measuring legitimacy

Answer 24

if the people have been fed lies and myths to gain support, the legitimacy of that support is undermined

Question 25

what is a crisis of legitimacy

Answer 25

where the authority of a regime is rejected
e.g. dissident republicans in N.I. reject the legitimacy of the british state and thus its agencies

Question 26

what is a political crisis

Answer 26

similar to legitimacy crisis, but different

it is concerned with opposition to the current administration, not the entire regime

Question 27

why does a crisis of legitimacy not equal unpopularity of a govt

Answer 27

because most end up being unpopular mid term- but there is no threat to the legitimacy of the state

Question 28

2 categories of loss of legitimacy

Answer 28

illegitimate rule and regime challenges

Question 29

illegitimate rule as a cause of loss of legitimacy

Answer 29

• unlimited govt
• arbitrary rule (individual discretion rather than a fair application of the law. e.g. finding someone guilty of a crime simply because they have a beard would be an arbitrary decision.)
• military coups
• rigged elections (may cause electoral boycott)
• exposure of corruption or scandals
• imposed govt or non elected technocracies
• draconian laws
• incompetence (military defeat, economic failure- liz truss)
• divisive rule

Question 30

regime challenges as a cause of loss of legitimacy

Answer 30

• social and economic divisions
• economic downturn and large-scale unemployment
• religious fundamentalism
• terrorism
• new ideologies
• exposure to the outside world
• globalisation

Question 31

ways legitimacy can be gained

Answer 31

• holding elections (in hope they endorse regime)
• holding referendums (to endorse new constitutional change)
• civilianising rule; humanising those in power
• accommodating political opponents; inviting them to positions in govt and allowing free press
• achieving success (law and order or economic advancement)
• surviving, becoming accepted over time
• exploiting political socialisation (e.g. media or schools) to breed support