The word “legitimacy’ has been originated from the Latin word ‘Legitimus’ which means lawful or legitimate. The concept of legitimacy is very old in political science. Plato accepted the legitimacy of political system on the basis of justice, and Aristotle accepted the legitimacy of political system on the basis of law. Indirect description of Indian philosophy is also found in ancient time. In the Manusmriti and Kautilya’s Arthashastra, all rights have been provided to the king or master to discharge certain duties.
Public observance and welfare of all have been identified as his original duty. In the medieval period, the principle of the divine theory of origin of state was considered to be the basis of the state legitimacy. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau considered the basis of the legitimacy of the people’s agreement in place of the divine origin. In the modem democratic governance, public participation is considered to be the proof of the legality of the state. Voting, public opinion, means of communication, nationalism etc. are the means through which legitimacy is achieved.
