Legitimacy Flashcards
what is legitimacy?
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
why is legitimacy subjective
differing personal views and societal change
regulations can be legal without being legitimate
south african apartheid laws
civil disobedience can be seen as legitimate
non payment of the poll tax
“legitimacy has nothing to do with moral or ethical ‘rightfulness’ of an action or request.” Why?
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)
sources of legitimacy (9)
tradition and habit
order and stability
religion
prosperity
assimilation
political formula
indoctrination
‘democracy’
consent
tradition and habit as a source of legitimacy
a regime that has held power, without serious popular challenge, for a long time may claim legitimacy; people grow accustomed to the regime
order and stability as a source of legitimacy
a regime that provides security and brings a measure of order to a country deserves to be treated as legitimate
religion as a source of legitimacy
some islamic regimes (e.g. iran) believe that their rule is founded in religious belief
prosperity as a source of legitimacy
economic stability and large scale employment provide key reasons for legitimacy due to the revenue allowing the state to provide essential services
assimilation as a source of legitimacy
a strong degree of cultural integration, where sub-cultures do not feel alienated from the political system, contributes to legitimacy
political formula as a source of legitimacy
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
indoctrination as a source of legitimacy
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’
‘democracy’
use of the term democracy offers some legitimacy by suggesting that the regime has control of the state
consent as a source of legitimacy
where the people have voted in free, honest, competitive and fair elections and the voter turnout is relatively high, a regime can be legitimised.
indicators of legitimacy (11)
- 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
problems with measuring legitimacy
- manipulation of information
- different political systems
- fear
- hidden dissent
- bias
- universalism
- indoctrination
manipulation of info as a problem with measuring legitimacy
figures (e.g. voter turnout and results) may be exaggerated to seem more favourable for the ruling party
different political systems as a problem with measuring legitimacy
support for a ruler may only be high due to the lack of opportunities for opposition
fear as a problem with measuring legitimacy
people may not vote or act a certain way as they fear consequences of doing so
hidden dissent as a problem with measuring legitimacy
there may be a lot of dissatisfaction with a regime, but it may not be manifested yet
bias as a problem with measuring legitimacy
the individual measuring legitimacy may have a select perception, not seeing things the way the group in question does
universalism as a problem with measuring legitimacy
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
indoctrination as a problem with measuring legitimacy
if the people have been fed lies and myths to gain support, the legitimacy of that support is undermined
what is a crisis of legitimacy
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
what is a political crisis
similar to legitimacy crisis, but different
it is concerned with opposition to the current administration, not the entire regime
why does a crisis of legitimacy not equal unpopularity of a govt
because most end up being unpopular mid term- but there is no threat to the legitimacy of the state
2 categories of loss of legitimacy
illegitimate rule and regime challenges
illegitimate rule as a cause of loss of legitimacy
- 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
regime challenges as a cause of loss of legitimacy
- social and economic divisions
- economic downturn and large-scale unemployment
- religious fundamentalism
- terrorism
- new ideologies
- exposure to the outside world
- globalisation
ways legitimacy can be gained
- 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
