Legitimacy

Legitimacy, in political and social theory, refers to the general belief that a governing authority or institution has rightful authority and should be obeyed. It underpins voluntary compliance and political stability even when coercive power is limited. Legitimacy is distinct from legality: an act can be legal but lack legitimacy, and a regime can be legitimate in practice even when some laws are contested.

Scholars distinguish several forms of legitimacy. Traditional legitimacy rests on enduring customs, inherited authority, and long-standing institutions. Charismatic legitimacy arises from the personal appeal and leadership of a figure or movement. Legal-rational legitimacy is grounded in formal rules, offices, and procedures, a framework famously analyzed by Max Weber. In addition to these forms, legitimacy can derive from consent of the governed, performance and effectiveness, and normative alignment with shared values and rights.

Sources of legitimacy include procedural fairness, accountability, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law. Political legitimacy often depends on fair elections, credible institutions, and respect for civil liberties; legal legitimacy depends on compliance with statutes and processes; moral legitimacy emphasizes justice and rights. Normative legitimacy concerns what ought to be considered rightful, while empirical legitimacy reflects whether people actually recognize and support authority.

Challenges to legitimacy arise when institutions fail to deliver public goods, when power is perceived as illegitimate, or when abuses erode trust. Crises such as corruption, repression, or economic turmoil can provoke legitimacy crises, revolutions, or demand for reform. Internationally, legitimacy also involves recognition by other states and adherence to international law, shaping the perceived authority of regimes or policies beyond national borders.