Legitiimi

Legitiimi is Finnish an adjective meaning legitimate, lawful, or proper. The term is used to describe actions, institutions, or authorities that are considered rightful within a political or social order. It derives from Latin legitimus, meaning lawful or permitted, and has entered Finnish through European languages such as Swedish or French.

In political science, legitimacy refers to the perceived right to rule and the acceptance of authority by the governed. A legitiimi government is one that citizens perceive as rightful, often because it operates within a constitutional framework, earns consent through elections, and upholds the rule of law. Legitimacy differs from mere legality; something can be legal yet lack legitimacy if public support is weak or institutions are seen as corrupt or unresponsive.

Scholars distinguish different sources of legitimacy. Max Weber identified traditional legitimacy, charismatic legitimacy, and legal-rational legitimacy as foundations for authority. Contemporary discussions separate normative legitimacy, the moral justification for rule, from empirical legitimacy, the practical functioning of institutions. Indicators of legitimacy include broad public consent, voluntary compliance, respect for due process, and the stability of political institutions.

Usage notes: legitiimi appears in discourse on governance, institutions, and public policy. The related term epälegitiimi describes perceived illegitimacy. The concept is central in debates about democracy, constitutional design, and political stability.