An actor or action is politically legitimate when relevant audiences recognize its right to exercise power or regard its conduct as justified. Legitimacy depends on acceptance, so judgments may differ among citizens, states and international organizations.
Sources of Political Legitimacy
Legitimacy is a key concept in the SL and HL core topic, Understanding power and global politics. Actors gain or lose legitimacy through connected processes.
| Source | How legitimacy develops | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| Consent and participation | Citizens authorize power through elections or consultation. | South Africa's May 2024 election led parties to form a Government of National Unity through parliamentary procedures. |
| Legality and procedure | Following domestic or international law makes power appear rightful rather than arbitrary. | Ukraine's self-defence after Russia's February 2022 invasion drew authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. |
| Performance | Effective security or public services can build acceptance. | During 2020, New Zealand's COVID-19 response initially strengthened trust in Jacinda Ardern's government. |
| Norms and recognition | Conduct consistent with shared values can legitimate non-state actors. | The International Committee of the Red Cross relies on neutrality, its humanitarian mandate and the Geneva Conventions. |
An action is more likely to be considered legitimate when it has a lawful mandate, follows fair procedures, pursues an accepted purpose and uses proportionate means. However, legality and legitimacy are not identical. Myanmar's military claimed legal authority after its February 2021 coup, but widespread resistance and exclusion from high-level ASEAN meetings showed a severe legitimacy deficit.
A common misconception is that legitimacy simply means legality. Law is one source of legitimacy, but lawful rule may lack consent, while unlawful resistance may claim moral justification.