What is legitimacy? What does the concept of “Legitimacy in political power” and “Legitimacy” mean in a general sense?

21.09.2019

Political legitimacy

Applied to political legitimacy The famous English political scientist David Beetham developed a “normative structure of political legitimacy”:

Legal- recognized by law, in accordance with the law.

The relationship between legitimacy and legality

The term "legitimacy" originated in early XIX century and expressed the desire to restore the power of the king in France as the only legitimate one, in contrast to the power of the usurper. At the same time, this word acquired another meaning - recognition of this state power and the territory of the state on international level. The demand for the legitimacy of power arose as a reaction against the violent change of power and redrawing of state borders, against arbitrariness and ochlocracy.

Legitimacy means recognition by the population of a given government and its right to govern. Legitimate power is accepted by the masses, and not simply imposed on them. The masses agree to submit to such power, considering it fair, authoritative, and the existing order the best for the country. Of course, in society there are always citizens who violate laws, who do not agree with a given political course, who do not support the government. The legitimacy of power means that it is supported by the majority, that laws are executed by the main part of society. Legitimacy should not be confused with the concept that also exists in political science legality authorities. The legality of power is its legal justification, its legitimacy, compliance with the legal norms existing in the state. Legitimacy, unlike legality, is not a legal fact, but a socio-psychological phenomenon. Any government that makes laws, even unpopular ones, but ensures their implementation is legal. At the same time, it may be illegitimate and not recognized by the people. There may also be illegal power in society, for example, the mafia, which, in principle, can also be perceived by the people (or part of it) as legitimate or illegitimate.

Legitimacy is the trust and acceptance of power by public consciousness, the justification of its actions, therefore it is associated with moral assessment. Citizens approve of the authorities based on their moral criteria, ideas about goodness, justice, decency, and conscience. Legitimacy is intended to ensure obedience, consent without coercion, and if it is not achieved, then to justify coercion and the use of force. Legitimate authorities and policies are authoritative and effective.

In order to win and maintain legitimacy and the trust of the people, the authorities resort to argumentation of their actions (legitimation), turning to the highest values (justice, truth), to history, feelings and emotions, moods, the real or fictitious will of the people, the dictates of the time, scientific and technical progress, production requirements, historical tasks of the country, etc. To justify violence and repression, dividing people into “us” and “strangers” is often used.

The principles of legitimacy (beliefs) may have their origins in ancient traditions, revolutionary charisma or in current legislation. A corresponding typology of legitimacy, which is widely accepted, was introduced by Max Weber. According to it, three types of legitimacy correspond to three sources of legitimacy of political power: tradition, charisma and rational-legal basis. Weber emphasized that we are not talking about classifying any real regime as one of the types, but about abstractions (the so-called “ideal types”), which are combined in one proportion or another in specific political systems.

Depending on which of the listed motives for the population’s support of the political normative order prevails in society, it is customary to distinguish the following types of legitimacy: traditional, charismatic and rational.

traditional legitimacy, formed on the basis of people’s belief in the necessity and inevitability of subordination to power, which receives in society (group) the status of tradition, custom, habit of obedience to certain persons or political institutions. This type of legitimacy is especially common in hereditary types of government, in particular in monarchical states. A long habit of justifying one or another form of government creates the effect of its justice and legality, which gives power high stability and stability;
rational (democratic) legitimacy, arising as a result of people’s recognition of the justice of those rational and democratic procedures on the basis of which the system of power is formed. This type support develops due to a person’s understanding of the presence of third-party interests, which presupposes the need to develop rules of general behavior, following which creates the opportunity to realize his own goals. In other words, the rational type of legitimacy essentially has a normative basis, characteristic of the organization of power in complexly organized societies.
charismatic legitimacy resulting from people’s faith in the outstanding qualities they recognize political leader. This image of an infallible person endowed with exceptional qualities (charisma) is transferred public opinion to the entire system of power. Unconditionally believing all the actions and plans of a charismatic leader, people uncritically accept the style and methods of his rule. The emotional delight of the population, which forms this highest authority, most often arises during a period of revolutionary change, when social orders and ideals familiar to people are collapsing and people cannot rely either on former norms and values, or on the still emerging rules of the political game. Therefore, the charisma of a leader embodies the faith and hope of people for a better future in Time of Troubles. But such unconditional support of the ruler by the population often turns into Caesarism, leaderism and a cult of personality.

Literature

D. Beetham The Legitimation of Power. London: Macmillan, 1991.
Achkasov V. A., Eliseev S. M., Lantsov S. A. Legitimation of power in post-socialist Russian society. - M.: Aspect Press, 1996. - 125

Notes

The concept and interpretation of legitimacy

The issue of legitimacy is very broad in interpretation and different concepts. And is interpreted or accepted different groups people differently.

Let's take an example from childhood. The leader in a boy group in the yard is either the strongest or the smartest! But this is recognition of him as such by society - a group of boys, which he had to prove to all of them in competition with other peers, where he defeated them, got ahead of them, that is, proved his exclusivity compared to others, by the fact that he is taller, better, stronger than them. He is capable of leading them. He is their leader.

Let's take another example. There are several ways to become a team leader and become legitimate:

You were chosen by the collective, by a majority vote, which means other people transferred their powers to you, giving you their right, the right to vote too. And the right to lead them for various reasons (higher level of education, greater outlook on the surrounding world, more developed mental capacity, great connections and acquaintances with other people, layers and communities of people), which will benefit everything - a given circle of people and each individual, an individual in particular, etc.;
You, a strong personality, and through physical or psychological, or other types of influence, convinced your rivals that you are capable of leading them and again - in this case you are legitimate;
You were appointed as a leader in accordance with the laws adopted by society or its representatives, which everyone around them recognized and recognizes. In this case, you are legally legitimate.

But it happens that in these cases you are not legitimate for another community of people who are located at a distance from your group. In this case, it is again necessary to prove your legitimacy, your legality in different ways and actions - through legislation, through physical, political and economic influence.

What are the types of legitimacy?

It is possible to define three directions of legitimacy and, naturally, three natures of the formation of legitimacy:

Conservative – formed on character, principles passed down from generation to generation, customs, etc.;
Psychological – emotional, based on the selection of the use of the concept of the pair “like-rejection”, mental – volitional;
Legal – based on the existing legal order and legality.

The first two directions of legitimacy relate to the personal type of power, and the third - to government organization legitimacy.

The term "legitimacy" had several meanings. It arose at the beginning of the 19th century in France and was initially practically identified with the term “legalite” (legality). It was used to denote legally established power, as opposed to forcibly usurped power (legitimacy originally came down to its legality, i.e. the presence of a legal source of power and a legal basis for its possession).

Over time, the concepts of legitimacy and legality have become separated. Legitimacy – This is the legal formalization of power, the correspondence of this power to objective law. Legitimacy(classical definition - M. Weber) - the moral justification of the existence of a state from the point of view of the majority of its citizens, expressed in the voluntary acceptance of state power by this majority.

However, the term “legitimacy” does not have a strictly legal content and is not fixed in constitutions. In contrast to legality, which is the legal justification of power, its norms and laws, legitimacy reflects the degree of compliance of power with the value concepts of the majority of citizens.

Legality of state power - This is a legal concept, which means the legal justification of power and its compliance with legal norms. The form of legalization of power is legislative (the Constitution or, for example, the Act of Succession to the Throne).

For citizens, the legality of government consists of obedience to laws and their implementation. Any government that makes laws, even unpopular ones, but ensures their implementation is legal. The legality of state power is the recognition of the legitimacy of its emergence and the action of power within the framework of legality. The term “legality” allows us to distinguish legally established power (based on elections or succession to the throne) from usurper power, i.e. forcibly captured as a result of a coup, riot, etc.

Legitimacy of state power– this is the quality of the relationship between power and those under power, which is expressed in: 1) its basis on universal moral values; 2) voluntary recognition by the population of the right of the authorities to govern and psychological readiness to obey its orders and consent to the use of coercive measures by the authorities.

Therefore, legal power can be simultaneously illegitimate. Legitimate power, in contrast to legal power, is power that is accepted and approved by the population. Legality and legitimacy may diverge over time.

Legitimacy has no legal content and is not enshrined in the Constitution. Legitimacy reflects the degree to which the authorities comply with the value concepts of the majority of citizens, i.e. This is a special moral and psychological assessment.

Legitimacy can be true and false (social demagoguery, deception). The concept of legitimacy does not coincide among different segments of the population. Legitimacy must be constantly maintained as it is a matter of consent, obedience and political participation without coercion. The legitimacy of state power leads to trust and authority, and hence the effectiveness of state power.

The question of legitimacy is a question of boundaries, of the legality of coercion applied by the authorities to individuals and legal entities.

Political history shows that legal power can be illegitimate and, vice versa.

Modern state power that wants to be effective must be both legal and legitimate, or simply legitimate, if this concept includes the legal aspect (legality) of the existence of state power.

Types of legitimacy (Max Weber).

Based on the fact that different types of power achieve authority with the help of different resources, M. Weber proposed to identify three ideal types of legitimacy of power: traditional, charismatic and rational-legal. He based this classification on the motive of submission.

1. Traditional type of legitimacy. This type of legitimacy was a historical first. It is based on faith in the sacredness of customs and traditions, their unshakability. The ideological form is a reference to the divine origin of power and the sacredness of the right of succession to the throne. Monarchs receive their power from God. In this way, a conviction is created in the legitimacy, greatness of power and the need to obey customs and traditions. Not only subjects, but also holders of power must obey customs and traditions. If the holder of power allows a violation, then divine law allows for rebellion and even regicide. Such power was called acquisitive, and from here it can be overthrown. Thus, the authority of leaders, monarchs, and kings is based on the habit of submitting to authority, belief in its divine character and the sacredness of the right of succession to the throne. The traditional type of legitimacy has survived to the present day, although it has been noticeably transformed. This includes royal regimes in countries such as Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, and Kuwait.

2. Charismatic type of legitimacy. The charismatic type of legitimacy is based on “the authority of an extraordinary personal gift (charisma), complete personal devotion and personal trust caused by the presence of leader qualities in a person.” "Charisma" translated from Greek means "divine gift, grace." The personality cult of a leader or leader is charismatic. Submission and consent are emotional and personal. The effect and significance of legal norms have been weakened. The charismatic leader's entourage and his army do not have a clearly defined legal status. The charismatic type of power is characterized by absolute legitimacy, since it is based on the population’s faith in the exceptional qualities of a political figure. Often the image of such a leader is consciously formed in society on the basis of the desires and ideas that prevail among the majority of the population. The charismatic type of legitimacy is also attributed to Soviet political leaders (Stalin). The charismatic type of power predominates in economically and socio-politically backward states. In modern conditions, the charismatic legitimacy of power is preserved mainly in African countries, where charisma is a form of organized political worship, i.e. a kind of political religion that deifies the personality of the leader.

3. Rational-bureaucratic type of legitimacy (legal). It is based on faith in the legality and fairness of the existing rules for the formation and functioning of institutions of political power. Belief in universal, equal, direct suffrage by secret ballot. Government institutions are subject to the law in their activities. The motive for the subordination of the population to power is the rationally conscious interest of the voter, who expresses it in elections, voting for one or another party or leader. Leader turnover is a consequence of mistrust that he will not abuse power. The main sign of fairness in government is adherence to the laws, but both citizens and holders of power must follow the laws. No subject (political, religious, etc.) should evade the execution of laws. To realize its goals, such power creates a rigid, branched organization, i.e. bureaucracy.

Plan
Introduction
1 Political legitimacy
2 The relationship between legitimacy and legality

Introduction

Legitimacy (from lat. legitimus - agreeing with the laws, lawful, lawful) - the consent of the people with the authorities when they voluntarily recognize their right to make binding decisions. The lower the level of legitimacy, the more often power will rely on force.

A legitimate action is an action that is not contested by any of the players who have the right and opportunity to challenge this action. An action ceases to be legitimate when the subject of the action has to make special efforts to protect his right to act as he did.

In addition, legitimacy is a political and legal concept that means the positive attitude of the inhabitants of the country, large groups, public opinion (including foreign) towards the institutions of power operating in a particular state, recognition of their legitimacy.

1. Political legitimacy

Applied to political legitimacy The famous English political scientist David Beetham developed a “normative structure of political legitimacy”:

1. power corresponds to the rules accepted or established in society;

3. there is evidence of consent to existing power relations.

Legitimacy should be distinguished from legality - compliance with legal norms.

Legal- recognized by law, in accordance with the law.

2. The relationship between legitimacy and legality

The term “legitimacy” arose at the beginning of the 19th century and expressed the desire to restore the power of the king in France as the only legitimate one, in contrast to the power of the usurper. At the same time, this word acquired another meaning - recognition of this state power and the territory of the state at the international level. The demand for the legitimacy of power arose as a reaction against the violent change of power and the redrawing of state borders, against arbitrariness and ochlocracy.

The principles of legitimacy (beliefs) may have their origins in ancient traditions, revolutionary charisma or in current legislation. The corresponding typology of legitimacy, which is widely accepted, was introduced by Max Weber. According to it, three types of legitimacy correspond to three sources of legitimacy political power: tradition, charisma and rational-legal basis. Weber emphasized that we are not talking about classifying any real regime as one of the types, but about abstractions (the so-called “ideal types”), in specific political systems combined in one proportion or another.

· traditional legitimacy, formed on the basis of people’s belief in the necessity and inevitability of subordination to power, which receives in society (group) the status of tradition, custom, habit of obedience to certain persons or political institutions. This type of legitimacy is especially common in hereditary types of government, in particular in monarchical states. A long habit of justifying one or another form of government creates the effect of its justice and legality, which gives power high stability and stability;

· rational (democratic) legitimacy, arising as a result of people’s recognition of the justice of those rational and democratic procedures on the basis of which the system of power is formed. This type of support develops due to a person’s understanding of the presence of third-party interests, which presupposes the need to develop rules of general behavior, following which creates the opportunity to realize his own goals. In other words, the rational type of legitimacy essentially has a normative basis, characteristic of the organization of power in complexly organized societies.

· charismatic legitimacy, which develops as a result of people’s faith in the outstanding qualities of a political leader that they recognize. This image of an infallible person endowed with exceptional qualities (charisma) is transferred by public opinion to the entire system of power. Unconditionally believing all the actions and plans of a charismatic leader, people uncritically accept the style and methods of his rule. The emotional delight of the population, which forms this highest authority, most often arises during a period of revolutionary change, when social orders and ideals familiar to people are collapsing and people cannot rely either on former norms and values, or on the still emerging rules of the political game. Therefore, the charisma of a leader embodies the faith and hope of people for a better future in troubled times. But such unconditional support of the ruler by the population often turns into Caesarism, leaderism and a cult of personality.

Literature

· D. Beetham The Legitimation of Power. London: Macmillan, 1991.

· Achkasov V. A., Eliseev S. M., Lantsov S. A. Legitimation of power in post-socialist Russian society. - M.: Aspect Press, 1996. - 125

1. Separation of powers | InLiberty.ru

“legitimacy” has a political and legal meaning, meaning a positive attitude of citizens and large social groups (including foreign ones) towards the institutions of political power operating in each particular state, recognition of the legitimacy of their existence.

Legitimacy is expressed in the voluntary recognition of the authorities in the country by the population. The people agree to submit to such power because they consider it authoritative, the decisions it makes are fair, and the management order that has developed in the state is the best in the world. this moment. Naturally, in any country there were, are and will be citizens who break the laws; who disagree with the current government and the way it is governed and oppose it. Absolute support can never be achieved, and this is not necessary. The one that is supported by the majority of members of society will be considered legitimate.

Legitimacy is the trust of the masses, their acceptance of power through the prism of public consciousness, and the justification of its actions from a moral point of view. Citizens express approval of the authorities based on their ideas about goodness, justice, morality, fairness, honor and conscience. Legitimacy ensures obedience without coercion, and if in achieving it the use of force is allowed, then as a justification for such measures.

The following types of legitimacy are distinguished: traditional, charismatic and rational.

Traditional legitimacy is formed on the basis of society’s belief in the inevitability and necessity of subordination to the current government, which over time acquires the status of a custom, a tradition of subordination to power. This type legitimacy is inherent in hereditary types of government, for example, monarchy.

Charismatic legitimacy, as a result of the formed faith of people, and their recognition of the outstanding qualities of an individual political leader. This image, which is endowed with exceptional human qualities(charisma). It is transferred by society to the entire system of political power. The authority of the leader is unconditionally accepted by the masses. This type of legitimacy in most cases arises during revolutions, when previously existing ideals are broken. People, unable to rely on former norms, associate faith in a leader with hopes for a bright future.

Rational legitimacy arises when society recognizes justice and the legitimacy of those democratic procedures on which the system of political power is formed. This type is born thanks to the conscious understanding by each member of society of the presence of outside interests, which ultimately implies the need to create rules of behavior, the observance of which makes it possible to achieve one’s own goals.

What is legitimacy? What does the concept of “Legitimacy in political power” and “Legitimacy” mean in a general sense?

Political legitimacy

The relationship between legitimacy and legality

Literature

Notes

see also

See what “Legitimacy” is in other dictionaries:

The concept and interpretation of legitimacy

What are the types of legitimacy?