Legitimacy Core Topic

Legitimacy

An actor or action commonly considered acceptable to the people and provides basic rationale for all forms of governance and exercising of power; how people feel.

Example of Legitimacy

Claudia Sheinbaum receiving the majority of votes in Mexico's 2024 presidential election and being officially declared president-elect.

Input/Process Legitimacy

How the state acquires power.

Example of Input/Process Legitimacy

South Korea holding democratic elections that allow citizens to participate in choosing their leaders.

Output/Performance Legitimacy

How well the state exercises its power.

Example of Output/Performance Legitimacy.

Singapore's government gaining public support through effective public services and economic development.

Top-Down Legitimacy

Authority and legitimacy that originates from a central authority or institution and flow towards the population, rather than emerging from the majority population.

Example of Top-Down Legitimacy

Saudi Arabia; the Saudi government is a monarchy, where power is centralized in the hands of the royal family. Decisions and policies are predominantly made by the ruling monarch and his appointed officials, with limited input or participation from the general population.

Bottom-Up Legitimacy

The idea that (bottom-up) legitimacy originated through participation from the broader population and provides political power agency to a broad spectrum of society.

Example of Bottom-Up Legitimacy

New Zealand; it operates as a parliamentary democracy where the government is elected by the people; citizens have a significant say in governance through regular, free and fair elections; policies are often responsive to the needs and opinions of the country's residents.

Non-State Actor(s)

Organizations, groups, or individuals that operate independently of recognized state governments that have the power to influence the political, social, economic, and security affairs of the state; they also need and crave legitimacy.

Example of Non-State Actor

Movements, Insurgencies, NGOs, MNCs