return to list of latest ideas

Single Idea 20608

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / a. Sovereignty]

Full Idea

Legitimacy and perceived legitimacy do not always go together: people can believe that their institutions are just, but they may be wrong. Is the reverse also possible? Can institutions be legitimate if people believe they are not?

Gist of Idea

Unjust institutions may be seen as just; are they legitimate if just but seen as unjust?

Source

Tuckness,A/Wolf,C (This is Political Philosophy [2017], 5 'What are')

A Reaction

Nice thoughts. An institution cannot be just merely because it is seen that way (if someone gets away with rigging an election). If they are just but seen as unjust, I presume they are legitimate (which is objective), but disfunctional.

Book Reference

Tuckness,A / Wolf,C: 'This is Political Philosophy' [Wiley Blackwell 2017], p.121