Legitimacy and the Foundations of Legitimate Government...

Legitimacy and the Foundations of Legitimate Government In this paper, it is my intention to discuss the issue of legitimacy as it relates to government. I will explore what a legitimate government necessarily consists of; that is, I will attempt to formulate a number of conditions a government must meet in order to be considered legitimate. A logical starting point in an investigation of legitimate government would seem to be an account of the original purpose of government. Problems arise, though, in discovering this original purpose; any and all attempts seem to consist of mere speculation. Government is a social convention created by man.* It is doubtful whether or not there can ever be an empirically accurate account of the†¦show more content†¦This is a huge assumption and one that I am unwilling to accept. The second option the political theorist has is to accept that any attempt to give a foundational theory of legitimate government will depend partly upon speculation. This does not mean, of course, that this speculation has no boundaries. The theorist must tailor a speculative account as closely as possible to the reality of things. What I mean by this is that the theorist must try to mirror reality as closely as possible, only filling in those areas which need filling. In addition, the theorist has an obligation to make clear which parts are empirical and which parts are speculative. On the speculative side, most theories of legitimacy will include both an account of human nature and the origins of government. These accounts are not to be taken as literal histories, or even historical theories. Speculative accounts should be taken at face value and appreciated for what they are: useful thought experiments. To take an account of human nature or the origins of government in any other way is foolish at best. It is my belief that there is an inherent value in these thought experiments. They are tremendous starting points for theories of legitimate government and reveal a great amount of insight into the views of the theorist. I believe that in adopting the position espoused by the second optionShow MoreRelatedThe Federal Emergency Management Agency1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rise and Fall of Legitimacy: A Review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 1979 to 2005 Introduction Legitimacy is the lifeblood of an organization. With conflict and competition a clear winner is considered legitimate. Cooperation, however, offers the potential for legitimacy for multiple parties. A legitimate organization has authority based on being representative, accountable, responsible, effectiveness, efficiency, minimal interference from political pressure, and establishedRead MoreDifferences Between Democratic And Liberal Views On Governing Essay878 Words   |  4 PagesPaper Two I.) 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