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Difficulty: HardLegitimacy: Meaning, Determinants, and Maintenance

Following an unconstitutional takeover, a transitional regime suspends the constitution and refrains from holding immediate elections. To secure public obedience without constitutional backing, the regime appoints widely respected traditional icons to leadership positions and enacts popular welfare subsidies. Which determinant of legitimacy is the regime primarily attempting to leverage?

  1. Socio-economic performance and charismatic prestigeAnswer
  2. B
    Coercive force and state security enforcement
  3. C
    Legal-rational authority established through military decrees
  4. D
    Political sovereignty guaranteed by international law

Answer

Socio-economic performance and charismatic prestige
When a regime lacks legal-rational authority derived from democratic or constitutional processes, it cultivates political legitimacy primarily through socio-economic performance (delivering popular policy outcomes) and charismatic or traditional prestige (co-opting revered figures). This fosters voluntary compliance from the populace without constitutional elections.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the regime's legal status and authority base.
The regime lacks legal-rational authority because it seized power unconstitutionally and suspended the existing constitution.
Legal-rational legitimacy strictly depends on established constitutional rules and democratic mandates.
2
Examine the specific strategies deployed by the regime.
Appointing respected cultural icons leverages traditional and charismatic prestige, while providing welfare subsidies demonstrates positive socio-economic output.
Non-constitutional governments frequently seek voluntary public acceptance through output performance and co-opting prestigious figures.
3
Distinguish between coercive power and legitimate acceptance.
Performance and prestige foster genuine voluntary compliance (legitimacy), whereas security enforcement merely exerts coercive physical force.
Legitimacy requires moral recognition by citizens, differentiating it from rule maintained by fear or compulsion.

Key Concept

Determinants and Maintenance of Political Legitimacy
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Topics

Legitimacy: Meaning, Determinants, and Maintenance

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