legitimacies
Legitimacies refer to the justification and acceptance of authority, institutions, or norms. In political science and sociology, legitimacy is the perception that power is rightful and should be obeyed, enabling authorities to govern with voluntary consent rather than coercion. Legitimacies can be traditional, derived from inherited authority and customs; charismatic, based on personal leadership or moral appeal; or legal-rational, grounded in formal rules and procedures, as described by Max Weber. Beyond these, legitimacy arises from broad-based consent, effectiveness, legality, and accountability.
Legitimacies operate at multiple levels: political legitimacy concerns a government or regime; legal legitimacy concerns the
Legitimacies are dynamic and contestable. They can grow from popular support, transparent governance, and credible rule
Key indicators include compliance with laws, acceptance of decisions, peaceful governance, and institutional performance. The concept