In colloquial speech, few people use this term. This concept is in great use in politics, implying the legitimacy of solving certain situations or issues.
The history of the origin of the term "Legitimacy"
The concept of "Legitimacy" was borrowed from the Latin language "legitimus" and is translated into Russian as "lawful", "lawful". Politicians uttering this word imply that the majority of the country's citizens support the existing government and accept all its decisions in terms of legality.Speaking in simple words"Legitimacy" is when the people entrust the management of their country either by a city or by a separate entity, submit to this authority, and fully agree with its decisions.
If we look deep into history, we will notice that it is full of cases when a group of individuals overthrows the current government and begins to rule the state, such power was rejected by the people and could not be considered legitimate because the people did not elect it and, accordingly, cannot trust it.
Subsequent laws, decisions and agreements are usually called illegitimate.
We will not go far for an example, but let us turn our inquisitive gaze to our neighbor Ukraine. In this country, there was a coup d'état initiated by Western intelligence services, namely German and American. After a handful of people, which everyone began to call the Junta, seized power. its decisions are considered illegitimate, in fact, like the government itself.
What is the difference between legitimate and legal power?
The terms legitimacy and legality should not be confused; they are completely different concepts.Legality is a legalized activity that is based on generally accepted norms and documents, and legitimacy is called the legitimacy of the authorities in the country, its leaders and politicians, which reflect qualities not from formal decrees and laws, but from social harmony.
In the image below you can familiarize yourself with the concepts of legality and legitimacy
What is the difference between legitimacy and legality?
Legitimacy is a concept and a word that came to us from deep centuries, from the time of Great Rome, and denoted from the Latin language the recognition by society or the majority of society of the exclusiveness or rights of a certain physical or legal entity to take actions within society, which should have been supported by the execution of these instructions from a legitimate person or body and executed by all individual individuals- citizens of this society, part of society or the whole society, as well as the bodies, apparatuses established by them state system authorities.
There is a consonant word "legitimacy" - a word of the same root - legate... It has always been a person authorized by the central government (emperor, Pope) to represent in the provinces or in other areas, outside the state, this power, law, the right of this state.
It was a representative of the authorities! It was a representative of the law! And it does not matter - political, or religious or otherwise, but a representative of the authorities! Her image. He was always legitimate for the rest.
The concept and interpretation of legitimacy
The issue of legitimacy is very broad in interpretation and in different concepts. And interpreted or accepted different groups people in different ways.
Let's take an example from childhood. The leader in the boys' group in the yard is either the strongest or the smartest! But, this is recognition of him as such by society - the company of boys, which he had to prove to all of them in competition with other peers, where he defeated them, got ahead, that is, proved his exceptionalism against the background of others, by the fact that he is higher, better, stronger than them. He is able to lead 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 of votes, which means that other people have transferred their powers to you, endowing you with their right, the right to vote too. And the right to lead them for various reasons (a higher level of education, a greater outlook of the world around, more developed mental abilities, great connections and acquaintances with other people, strata and communities of people), which will benefit everything - this circle of people and each individual, an individual in particular, etc .;
- You, a strong personality, and by means of physical or psychological, or other type of influence, convinced your rivals that you are able to lead them and again - in this case you are legitimate;
- You were appointed a leader in accordance with the laws adopted by the society or its representatives, which everyone around them recognized and recognize. 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 far from your group. In this case, it is again necessary to prove your legitimacy, your legitimacy in different ways and actions - through legislation, through physical, political and economic impact.
What are the types of legitimacy
Three directions of legitimacy can be identified and, naturally, three types of legitimacy formation:
- Conservative - formed on the basis of character, principles passed down from generation to generation, customs, etc .;
- Psychological - emotional, based on the selection of the use of the concept of a pair of "sympathy - rejection", mentally - strong-willed;
- Legal - on the existing rule of law and legality.
The first two directions of legitimacy relate to the personal type of power, and the third - to the state organization of legitimacy.
Any government needs legitimacy.
Legitimacy - a political property of a public authority, which means that the majority of citizens recognize the correctness and legality of its formation and functioning. Any authority that rests on popular consensus is legitimate.
Concept "Legitimacy" means the recognition by the community of an undeniable basis for officials (rulers) to exercise power. It is opposed to the illegal seizure of power, its usurpation. Legitimacy implies trust in the authorities and the support of the rulers, that is, loyalty, on the part of the majority of members of the community, because in any society there are always people who are in opposition to the rulers.
The main thing in the concept of "legitimacy" is the nature ("tonality") of the attitude to power on the part of the population (people) subject to it. If the population (people) accepts and positively evaluates the power, recognizes its right to rule, and agrees to submit to it, then such power is legitimate. If this is not so, and the people do not "love" the government and do not trust the government, although it obeys it for the time being within the framework of the instinct of self-preservation (primarily because of the fear of mass repression), then such power appears as illegitimate.
Assimilation of the question of the legitimacy of state power requires knowledge of the content and sources of not only three classic types legitimacy - traditional, charismatic and rational-legal (democratic) - but also of such types as ideological, technocratic, etc. It is also required to answer the question of how the legitimacy of power and its effectiveness (efficiency) relate to each other.
Technocratic legitimacy
As well as traditional types the legitimacy of power (traditional, charismatic and rational-legal), there is also such a type as technocratic legitimacy.
For the simple reason that politics deals with the interests and destinies of millions of people and the cost of mistakes in this area often takes the form of tragedies of entire nations, the issue of the effectiveness of politics and politicians is especially acute. It is with this issue that technocratic legitimacy is connected, the core of which is the requirement for the authorities to be competent, to be professional. It should be borne in mind that for those who exercise power or hope to achieve it, politics takes on the character of a craft, a specialized occupation, which necessarily presupposes the presence of special knowledge and experience. If this is not so, then politics turns into politicking, loses its effectiveness. Very figuratively, the essence of technocratic legitimacy is expressed by Russian folk proverbs: "I took up the tug, don't say you're not hefty", "You don't know the ford, don't stick your head in the water."
As a formula reflecting the relationship (interdependence) between the legitimacy and the effectiveness of power, there is a rule: the degree of legitimacy of power is most often directly proportional to its effectiveness, i.e. the more effective, the more legitimacy. And vice versa. If this efficiency, which is called "the cat cried," then the initially legitimate government, which does not cope with the tasks assigned to it, eventually loses the trust of citizens and turns into illegitimate in their eyes.
If one evaluates the power in post-socialist Russia through this prism, then it clearly lacks professionalism. It is known that the defeated and thoroughly destroyed in the Second World War Germany and Japan, in order to perform an "economic miracle" and be reborn as a "phoenix from the ashes", it took some 15-20 years. For the same period of time (if we date the start of market reforms in August 1991), we have not yet even fully restored what (through thoughtlessness or malicious intent) we have thoroughly destroyed.
It is no coincidence that on October 26, 2006 - the day after the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin spoke on the air with the people, during which he had to "take the rap" for all the "sins" of the executive haves - the then chairman of the federal government M. Fradkov put a disappointing diagnosis in his office: "collective irresponsibility" associated with "organizational weakness and insufficient knowledge of the subject." That is, what you lead and what you manage.
Types of legitimacy
Distinguish three "ideal types" legitimacy:
- traditional based on a set of customs, the power of which has been recognized from time immemorial, and on the habit of adhering to such customs deeply rooted in man;
- charismatic, which is entirely characterized by the personal devotion of people subject to the cause of a person and their trust only in his person as a leader-leader;
- rational, arising from the conformity of power to the rational principle, with the help of which the legal order of the current political system is established.
In relation to this latter type, the term “democratic legitimacy” is used as a synonym.
In addition to these three "ideal types", there are other types of legitimacy, namely:
- technocratic, which can be expressed by the Russian proverb: "I took up the tug, do not say that it is not hefty", i.e. the authorities must be professional;
- ontological(ontology is the doctrine of being), which contains the correspondence of power to the universal principles of human and social life.
Structural legitimacy
The most important factor in recognizing the validity of governance is the formation of government bodies on the basis of legality. This structural legitimacy(first view). It is so called because it defines the structure of the political system. This legitimacy can come in two forms. First, it is traditional legitimacy, which implies public recognition of the rulers who received power in accordance with the traditions and customs of a given community: elders, a leader (the most authoritative leader), a monarch, etc. Secondly, it is more common in democratic communities legal legitimacy, that is, public recognition of the transfer of power in accordance with the established laws on the election of government bodies.
However, the acquisition of powers by the rulers on a legal basis still does not guarantee them the preservation of trust and support, that is, legitimacy. Abuse of power violation of the laws and ideas of citizens about justice, the ineffectiveness of the authorities in managing society can cause political crisis, undermining trust, i.e., loss of legitimacy. In established democracies, crises of legitimacy are resolved in a civilized manner. For this, procedures are provided for removing the ruler who has lost his authority from power. For example, the growth of extra-parliamentary forms of political activity (rallies, protest march, etc.) can lead to the voluntary resignation of political leaders, early elections, a referendum, etc.
Charismatic legitimacy
Charismatic legitimacy is based on the belief in a special leadership talent that claims access to political power, I breathe charisma - a divine gift, grace. In this case, the trust of citizens is of an emotional nature and is based on personal sympathy for the leader. At the same time, the importance of legal norms is belittled on both sides. The charismatic method of legitimizing rulers is often used during periods of revolution, when new authorities cannot rely on law or tradition.
These types of legitimacy are ideal models. In political practice, they intertwine and complement each other. New types of legitimacy are emerging. The strengthening of nationalism led to the emergence of the so-called ethnic legitimacy- the formation power structures on a national basis. This variety can be attributed to the type of legal legitimacy, when the qualification of nationality is explicitly or implicitly used in elections.
Degree of legitimacy, that is, trust in rulers, is difficult to quantify. However, there are certain metrics that can be used for this purpose. Among them are: the level of coercion required to perform management functions by the rulers; the nature of attempts to replace representatives of the authorities, manifestations of civil disobedience (riots, strikes, etc.); election results; survey results; and etc.
The legitimacy of political power
Legitimate government is usually characterized as lawful and just. The very word "legitimacy" comes from lat. legitimus- law. But not all legitimate authority can be legitimate. Already in the Middle Ages, there are theoretical justifications that the monarch, becoming a tyrant and not fulfilling his destiny, deprives his power of legitimacy. In this case, the people have the right to overthrow such a government (this, in particular, was said by F. Aquinas).
Legitimacy is the confidence of the people that the authorities will fulfill their obligations; recognition of the authority of the government and voluntary submission to it; understanding of the correct and appropriate use of power, including violence. The legitimate government, as a rule, is able to ensure the stability and development of society without resorting to violence.
M. Weber identified three main types of political domination and the corresponding forms of legitimacy:
- traditional domination - legitimacy based on the traditions of a patriarchal society, for example, monarchy - traditional legitimacy;
- charismatic domination - legitimacy based on real or imaginary outstanding qualities of a ruler, leader, prophet - charismatic legitimacy;
- rule-based domination- rational and legal legitimacy of law-abiding citizens in a democratic society.
In addition to those listed, there are other types of legitimacy, for example: ontological, ideological, structural, etc.
Ontological legitimacy to the greatest extent characteristic of ancient and traditional societies, when the existing norms of being are perceived by people as a natural (extrahuman) way of the established order, and its violation - as a catastrophe, anarchy, chaos. This is the recognition by a person (society) of the existing order as a norm of being, which applies not only to society, but also to the entire outer space. Such legitimacy is closely linked to the life and death of the nation's canonized political leader. His life represents power and order, and his death represents anarchy and chaos. History knows many examples when, after the death of their leader, the people felt fear of the future. The deaths of V.I. Lenin, I.V. Stalin, Kim Il Sung (North Korea) and others can be cited as an example.
At the heart of ideological legitimacy there are certain ideological "constructions" - attractive ideas, promises of a "bright future" or "new world order", religious dogmas, etc. Soviet regime authorities; the ideas of National Socialism contributed to the legitimization of the fascist regime in Germany. Some countries of the Near and Middle East have elevated Islam to the rank of state ideology.
Structural legitimacy is based on the rules and norms of establishing and changing power, for example, the constitution (constitutional legitimacy), which have been established in society. If the majority of citizens are dissatisfied with the political power existing in society, then they "tolerate" it until the new elections.
The legitimacy of power is closely linked to its effectiveness. Power that has a legal basis for domination in society, as a result of its ineffective policy, can lose the confidence of citizens and become illegitimate. And on the contrary, a power that has no legal basis, as a result of an effective policy, can gain the confidence of the people and become legitimate. The process of recognizing the legitimacy of power is called ce legitimization, and her loss of legitimacy - delegitimization.
Any political power, even the most reactionary, strives to appear in the eyes of its people and in the eyes of the world community as effective and legitimate. Therefore, the process of legitimizing power is a matter of special concern for the ruling elite. One of the most widespread techniques is hushing up the negative results of one's policies and all sorts of "protruding" real and imaginary successes. Independent mass media often hinder such substitution of negative factors for positive ones. The illegitimate and ineffective government is afraid to enter into a dialogue with society and with its opponents, so as not to finally show their inconsistency. Therefore, she in every way seeks to restrict the activities of independent media or to put their control in their fashion.
- (Latin legitimus, from lex, legislation law). Law. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov AN, 1910. LEGITIME [lat. legitimus] legal, in accordance with the law. Dictionary of foreign words. Komlev N.G ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
legitimate- a competent, legitimate, legal Dictionary of Russian synonyms. legitimate adj. legal compliance with the law) Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Context 5.0 Informatics. 2012 ... Synonym dictionary
legitimate- oh, oh. légitime adj. 1. Compliant with the laws, legal. Legitimate rights. ALS 1. However, her Smirnova's trip abroad is, probably, a consequence of her extra legal or legal position in order to suppress rumors, if not with that ... ... Historical Dictionary gallicisms of the Russian language
LEGITIMAL- LEGITIME, oh, oh (special). Recognized by law, in line with the law. | noun legitimacy, and, wives. L. power. Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
Legitimate- adj. In accordance with the law in force in the state; legal, competent. Efremova's Explanatory Dictionary. T.F. Efremova. 2000 ... Modern Dictionary Russian language Efremova
legitimate- legitimate; short form of men, mna ... Russian spelling dictionary
legitimate- cr.f. legiti / me, legiti / me, me, me ... orthographic dictionary Russian language
legitimate- oh, oh; me, me, me. [from lat. legitimus lawful, lawful] lawful. L nd power ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Legitimate- What is genuine, valid or legal. For example, a legal migrant enters with a legitimate intent to comply with immigration laws and present legitimate travel documents. cm. also conscientious ... International Migration Law: Glossary of Terms
legitimate- legal ... Dictionary of foreign words edited by I. Mostitsky
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Recently, cases have become more frequent when the peoples of certain countries express distrust to the authorities of their states, while such terms as "legitimacy" and "illegitimacy" appear in the press. For many, it remains unclear what these concepts mean.
Legitimacy: What Is It?
The term "legitimacy" comes from the Latin word legitimus, which translates as "lawful, agreeing with the laws, lawful". In political science, this term denotes the voluntary recognition by the people for the right to make decisions concerning the entire people. V scientific literature you can find complete answers to the questions: "The term" legitimacy "- what is it? How to understand the expression" legitimacy of power "?" So, this is a political and legal term that means an approving attitude of the country's citizens to the institutions of power. Naturally, in such countries, the supreme power is legitimate. However, when this term first came into use, it meant something completely different. This was at the beginning of the 19th century in France, during the years of the usurpation of power by Napoleon. Some group of the French wanted to restore the king's only legitimate authority. It was this aspiration of the monarchists that was called the term “legitimacy”. That this is more in line with the meaning of the Latin word legitimus becomes immediately apparent. At the same time, the republicans began to use this term as the recognition of a given state and the power established on its territory by other states. In the modern sense, legitimacy is the voluntary acceptance of power by the masses, who make up the majority. Moreover, this approval is primarily associated with a moral assessment: their ideas of nobility, justice, conscience, decency, etc. To win the confidence of the masses, the government tries to instill in them the idea that all its decisions and actions are aimed at the good of the people.
The great German sociologist and philosopher Max Weber introduced a typology of the legitimacy of power. According to it, there is a traditional, charismatic and rational legitimacy.
- Traditional legitimacy. What it is? In some states populace blindly believe that power is sacred, and obeying it is inevitable and necessary. In such societies, power gains the status of a tradition. Naturally, a similar picture is observed in those states in which the leadership of the country is inherited (kingdom, emirate, sultanate, principality, etc.).
- Charismatic legitimacy is formed on the basis of people's belief in the exceptional dignity and authority of this or that. political system reigning in the country. People experience emotional delight and are ready to strictly obey it in everything. This usually develops at the dawn of revolutions, a change in political power, etc.
- Rational or democratic legitimacy is formed due to the recognition by the people of the justice of the actions and decisions of those in power. found in complex societies. In this case, legitimacy has a normative basis.
The idea of a legitimate state comes from two and legitimacy. A state of this type, in fact, has every right to demand obedience from its citizens, since in these societies the rule of law is in the first place. Consequently, regardless of the personalities of individual members of the government, the people must obey the laws in force in this state. If citizens are not satisfied with these laws, and they do not want to obey them, then they have several options: emigration (departure from this state to another), overthrow of the government (revolution), insubordination, which is fraught with punishment provided for in the legislation of this country. A legitimate state is a mechanism for transferring the right to choose from one generation to another.
