*Illustration by Kim Ryu. Design by Louise Bova.
Are Americans Fully Committed to Democracy?
The Best Form of Government Is Only as Strong as the People and Patterns of Behavior That Defend It
Jealous Gods, Angry Mobs, and the Struggle for Lasting Legitimacy
Even with Authority from the Almighty Above, Rulers Need Consensus from the People Below
Even if political power sometimes comes from the barrel of a gun, any government is more effective if it enjoys popular acceptance. Today, governments usually claim a popular mandate from an election, even if that election is fraudulent. In the past, however, elections played little role in bestowing legitimacy.
In the ancient world, rulers usually staked their legitimacy by proclaiming their …
Reports of U.S. Democracy's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Recent Protests Show That Americans Want More Government, Just Not This Government
Does Trump’s election and its aftermath mean that the U.S. government is experiencing a crisis of legitimacy? In order to address that question, we need to understand how citizens determine whether a government is legitimate or not. What qualities do citizens use to assess the trustworthiness of their governments? Zócalo Public Square asked these questions of political scientist Margaret Levi, who has investigated the conditions under which people come to believe their governments are legitimate and the consequences of those beliefs for compliance, consent, and the rule of law in North America and other parts …
For China’s One-Party Rulers, Legitimacy Flows from Prosperity and Competence
The West Still Underestimates Beijing’s Ancient Social Contract with “Heaven”
It is widely assumed in the West that legitimacy of a government comes from universal suffrage and multiparty …
Why Authoritarianism May Be on the Rise
To Endure, Western Democracies Need to Root Themselves in a Vision of the Common Good
Why is democracy in trouble? Long before democracy’s global slump became conventional wisdom, Yascha Mounk was warning that support for democracy was on the decline in the world’s most advanced societies. …
Why Donald Trump Will Hate the Presidency
The Tycoon in the White House Doesn’t Understand the Difference Between Strength and Power
Donald Trump entered politics as a self-proclaimed “strong leader.” He castigated his supposedly tepid predecessor for lacking necessary strength. Trump, by contrast, …
Liberal Democracy Is Too Limited in the Era of the On-Demand Economy
Any Successful Government Must Consider Not Only What Citizens Want, but What They Can Contribute
In the 20th century, the legitimacy of governments was based almost solely on the rule of law and the right to vote.
In the democratic upheaval of the 21st century, citizens still want the protection of laws and the ability to choose representatives, but those powers may no longer be enough to make government legitimate in the eyes of the people. In the future, governments …
