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The dynamics of legitimation - Why the study of political legitimacy needs more realism

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  • Daniel Gaus

Abstract

The paper suggests a practice turn in the analysis of political legitimacy. Current social science research on political legitimacy suffers twofold. First, it shows an undue (silent) impact of an ethics-first perspective. Second, empirical approaches to political legitimacy mostly focus on societal constellations of citizens’ beliefs. The dynamic character of political legitimacy as a concept referring to an ongoing societal practice of legitimation is missed. Understanding legitimacy in terms of legitimation practice suggests a broadened research agenda that a) reserves a greater role to hermeneutical approaches and that b) acknowledges the systematic relation of political theory, the sociology of knowledge and the history of ideas in that matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Gaus, 2011. "The dynamics of legitimation - Why the study of political legitimacy needs more realism," RECON Online Working Papers Series 15, RECON.
  • Handle: RePEc:erp:reconx:p0099
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    Cited by:

    1. Sutter, Camille, 2011. "State legitimacy and famines in Sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 37621, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    democracy; legitimacy; methodological issues; political science; normative political theory;
    All these keywords.

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