6.3.5   Legitimacy of Political Systems

(This is an archived page, from the Patterns of Power Edition 3 book.  Current versions are at book contents).

A political system is a framework of rules and practices for appointing politicians and empowering them to make decisions which significantly affect people’s lives.  A legitimate political system is one which the population sees as having the right to exercise power and enforce obedience.

There are various ways of assessing political legitimacy.  The following sub-sections step through the subject:

·     Political legitimacy is necessary and important (6.3.5.1).

·     Different authors have proposed criteria for assessing it (6.3.5.2).

·     An explanation is offered for how David Beetham's three-layer assessment model relates to this book (6.3.5.3).

·     Beetham’s third layer of assessment, evidence of public assent, is explored in relation to different political systems (6.3.5.4).