Legitimacy

Legitimacy is

• rightful power

Why is state legitimacy important for stability

Legitimate states are more likely to maintain order and prevent conflict

How does legitimacy affect citizen compliance

Citizens are more likely to obey laws and cooperate with government policies

Traditional legitimacy

• Based on long standing practices and historical customs

• Kim Jong Un

Charismatic legitimacy

Derived from personal appeal and leadership qualities of an individual

Zelensky’s decision to stay in Kyiv gave him charismatic legitimacy, allowed to gain further support

Rational-legal legitimacy

power is accepted because people believe in the legality and fairness of the established order

in 2022 Zelensky gained legal legitimacy after winning the democratic elections

Internal legitimacy

• The acceptability of power by those over whom it is exercised

• Derived from domestic factors such as effective governance and public support

Sources of legitimacy

• democracy

• Outcomes - economic growth, living standards, security

• resonance

Who created concept of input and output legitimacy?

Fritz Scharpf

what does it mean when a state has input legitimacy

when public policy reflects the expressed preferences of citizens

what does it mean when a state has output legitimacy

when public policy delivers positive outcomes for citizens

who created the concept of throughput legitimacy?

Vivienne Schmidt

What is throughput legitimacy and what it depends on:

• how the outcomes are formed

• legality/constitutionalism

• human rights

• transparent/accountable

Why input legitimacy can be problematic?

it depends on majority rule, if you are a minority, your interests are not reflected

What does external legitimacy mean

• acceptability of power to outside actors

• influenced by international recognition, adherence to global norms and relationships with other states

Factors which impact external legitimacy of a state

• following international law

• outcomes and stability

• human rights record

• international recognition

• democratic status

• alliances

• power

What role does economic growth play in state legitimacy

job creation and improved living standards boots legitimacy

How does representative democracy provide legitimacy?

• comes from the mandate given through regular, free and fair elections

What is a challenge to state internal legitimacy

corruption and inequality undermine trust

How can authoritarianism affect legitimacy?

state can be seen as oppressive

Realist’s view of legitimacy

• focuses on the state’s ability to maintain power and security, with legitimacy being secondary to survival

Liberal view

emphasises the importance of democratic institutions and rule of law iin establishing legitimacy

What are geopolitical pressures as external challenges to state legitimacy?

• Territorial disputes that can undermine a state's sovereignty and a state’s ability to govern effectively

• Russia-Ukraine conflict over Crimea undermined Ukraine’s territorial control but later strengthened domestic and international legitimacy through resistance.

hat is an example of economic sanctions impacting legitimacy?

US-led economic sanctions on Iran, especially after the US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, severely restricted Iran’s oil exports and access to global financial systems.

How do economic sanctions challenge state legitimacy?

Sanctions weaken economic performance, increase inflation and unemployment, and reduce living standards, which can undermine public trust in the government’s ability to provide for its citizens and maintain effective governance.

How do human rights violations affect state legitimacy?

• international condemnation

• sanctions

• loss of moral authority

What is an example of human rights violations impacting legitimacy?

• Uyghurs in China

• accusations have damaged China’s international legitimacy and led to criticism, sanctions and diplomatic boycotts by Western states.

How do global norms and institutions challenge state legitimacy?

Failure to comply with international norms can undermine legitimacy.

What role does the United Nations play in state legitimacy?

The UN confers or withdraws legitimacy through actions such as recognizing governments or imposing sanctions.

Why is democratic accountability important for legitimacy

• makes government actions acceptable to the public - legality

• Builds trust and confidence in the political system as officials are forced to justify their actions and face consequences for poor performance

• ensures that power is exercised in the public interest rather than for private gain