SUMMARY FOR PPT
What does legitimacy mean? And what does it mean to be legitimate?
Recognition, acceptance, and support for an existing form of rule or government as right
and good are all examples of legitimacy. The process through which individuals attempt
to establish legitimacy for a rule or ruler is known as legitimation.
Max Weber, a German sociologist, identifies three types of legitimacy namely:
1. Traditional Legitimacy (TL)
Traditional Legitimacy is the kind of moral authority that keeps the society
together by virtue of custom and habit. This type of legitimacy emphasizes the authority
of tradition by virtue of its historical practice by a particular group.
2. Charismatic Legitimacy (CL)
Charismatic leadership derives its legitimacy from a leader's unique personal
traits or evidence of great insight and accomplishment, both of which inspire followers'
loyalty and allegiance.
According to the book of German Sociologist Max Weber, “Charisma and
Institution Building,” he studies the transition of power from one regime to another
through the seizure of power or revolution. The Charismatic leader is often regarded as
endowed with exceptional powers and superhuman qualities.
3. Rational-Legal Legitimacy (RLL)
Rational-Legal Legitimacy is a type of legitimacy that is based on a government’s
capacity to use public interest as the rationale for establishing and enforcing law and
order. The basis of power and leadership of a government that pledges to abide the law
and wins consent from the people through public trust.