6.3 Political Legitimacy
Political legitimacy depends upon the structure of the political system and the performance of the politicians within that.
6.3.1 Authoritarian Systems of Government
people don’t choose authoritarian leaders but they might accept them
6.3.2 Democratic Systems of Government
democracies are seen as legitimate, but they have inherent weaknesses
6.3.3 Public Trust in Politicians
people need to believe that they could and would deliver acceptable governance
6.3.4 Political Leaders
they represent their teams and are responsible for their performance
6.3.5 Legitimacy of the Political System
how to assess a government’s ability to command support
6.3.6 Patriotic Unity in Defending the Country
external threats unite a country, making its leader popular for a time
6.3.7 Compliance with International Human Rights
human rights are a test of legitimacy, and violations attract strong criticism
6.3.8 The Ideal Political System?
there is no ideal political system: all have weaknesses
6.3.9 Disillusion with Politicians
low voter turnout and protests indicate disillusion with politics
The pressures on politicians from the population, from businesses, from interest groups and from the media are the subject of the next segment.