1.8 Political Legitimacy & 1.9 Sustaining Legitimacy

Legitimacy

Whether a government’s constituents believe their government has the right to use power in the way they do. Legitimacy confers authority on and can increase the power of a regime and government

Sources of Legitimacy

For both democratic and authoritarian regimes, it can include popular elections, constitutional provisions, nationalism, tradition, governmental effectiveness, economic growth, ideology, religious heritage and organizations, and the dominant political party’s endorsement

Political efficacy

Belief that citizens have the ability to affect government policy making

Charismatic Legitimacy

Based upon the dynamic personality of an individual or small group

Traditional legitimacy

Based upon the belief that past practices rooting in myths, ceremony, ritual, religion, and lineage should determine who should rule

Rational-legal Legitimacy

Based upon a system of well-established laws and procedures rooting in institutions and the rule of law