Authors: Bogdanor
Summary: In just under 600 words, this entry divides into two parts. First the entry describes legitimacy's conceptual meaning, and then it considers the theories of Weber, Lipset and Parsons.
Legitimacy refers to the "lawfulness" of a regime, but in a particular sense: as a concept it derives from social appropriateness rather than from formal laws. Legitimacy has become central to debates about political obligation and whether political power is properly exercised. Closely connected to the investigation of the concept of legitimacy are concepts like power, authority, and political justification.
The second half of the entry focuses on the sociological uses of legitimacy, and in particular on the theories and works of Weber, Lipset and Parsons. The entry emphasizes Weber's trichotomy of political legitimacy (traditional, charismatic and legal/rational), Lipset's concern with legitimacy in maintaining 'stable democracy,' and Parson's tendency to conflate power with legitimacy, thereby narrowing the empirical utility of both concepts. The entry offers a concluding comment about how different scholars use the concept of legitimacy.