Modes of Comparing Political Systems

Question 1

Discuss, illustrate, and critically evaluate the relationship between political stability, legitimacy and political institutions

Answer 1

In stable systems, legitimacy (the acceptance of the system) and institutions (rules that are actively being followed)

Question 2

State the different definitions of legitimacy, and critically evaluate them

Answer 2

Weber 1978:
- Traditional Legitimacy (for example monarchy)
- Charismatic (Caesarism)
- Rational-Legal (Democracy)

Lipset 1959: higher levels of economic development do tend to generate the trust, tolerance, autonomous participation, and valuing of freedom facilitate democracy (or sustain it - Przeworski et al. 2000)

Beetham 2013: Webers’ definition is quite inadequate for analysing modern political systems. Instead, legitimacy should be understood as a multidimensional concept, comprising rules, normative beliefs and appropriate actions. Power can be said to be legitimate when:
- it does not breach established rules
- its acquisition and exercise are normatively validated in terms of socially accepted beliefs about rightful authorisation and due performance
- where it is confirmed through appropriate acts of recognition and acknowledgement

Question 3

Explain the relationship of legitimacy to law and political culture, and illustrate your explanation with specific examples

Question 4

Deliver a critical evaluation of the ways in which we try to understand how to operate these concepts in practice