Legitimacy :
The English word ‘Legitimacy’ has been derived from Latin word ‘Legitimus’ which means ‘lawful’. But in political science, the word legitimacy stands for a concept which includes many things more than lawful. It refers such values and beliefs of state which make it logical.
Different scholars have defined legitimacy as following :
According to Karl J. Fredrick :
“Legitimacy is that sign of laws and rulers which promotes their authority.”
According to S.M. Lipset :
“Legitimacy refers that ability and capacity of a system which orginate or maintain a belief in the public that the present political system is the best for them.”
According to the definitions given above, legitimacy refers the consent of public which is given to political system. If such consent of people is not available to a political system then it cannot remain for long.
