Political legitimacy in a state is maintained primarily through the persistent application of state coercion and physical force rather than the voluntary consent of the governed.
Answer: Answer
Answer
The statement is false because political legitimacy fundamentally relies on citizen consent, lawful governance, and moral acceptance, whereas relying primarily on state coercion reflects a breakdown of legitimacy.
Legitimacy reflects the moral right of a government to exercise authority, which is sustained through factors such as fair elections, good governance, constitutionalism, and public support, rather than physical intimidation or armed force.
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Key Concept
Determinants and Maintenance of Political Legitimacy