Posted by Chester Morton / Monday 26 December 2016 / No comments
How to sustain the legitimacy of a government
Definition of legitimacy
The term legitimacy can be defined as the acceptance of a
political leader or a government by the people as the rightful entity to
exercise authority over the governed. In other words, the subjects in the state
are willing to subordinate themselves to the political ruler and or his regime.
HOW TO SUSTAIN THE
LEGITIMACY OF A GOVERNMENT
Popular participation in government
One of the means by which the legitimacy of a government can
be sustained is to ensure the participation of the individuals and groups within
the state. In most countries, there are political parties that are vying to
capture political power, there are pressure groups that are working to
influence government policy in their favour and there are trade unions trying
to improve the lot of workers. All of them must be encouraged to participate in
government to sustain the legitimacy of the government.
Respect for fundamental
human rights
There are fundamental rights of citizens that must be
respected in every political jurisdiction. Such rights include the right to
life, the right to live in dignity, the right to own property etc. The
government must be seen to be promoting and protecting these rights. If the
government instead, violates these rights, it would endanger its legitimacy.
Promote the welfare of the citizens
Another method by which the legitimacy of a government can be
maintained is to ensure that the programmes and policies of the government
inures to the benefit of the mass of the people. Provision of social facilities
for the people, for example, would convince the people that the government is
seeking their welfare and therefore would always support it. Their constant
support lends legitimacy to the government.
Periodic elections
In every political dispensation, the people would always want
to feel a part of the political process. One of the ways of being part of the
political process is to be able to determine who governs the people. Where
citizens are allowed to elect their leaders from time to time, it would give
legitimacy to the government.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. What is legitimacy?
b. Describe four
ways in which a government can sustain its legitimacy
