Module 7 – Power and Justice
Lesson 2
The Legitimacy of Government: Who Gave You the Right?
The Legitimacy of Government: Who Gave You the Right?
Guiding Questions
• What makes a government legitimate?
• Is power enough — or does it need moral justification?
• When is resistance to authority justified?
From Rule by Force to Rule by Right
Throughout history, rulers have claimed power in many ways:
• By birthright (monarchies)
• By military conquest (dictatorships)
• By divine command (“chosen by God”)
• By election or consent (democracies)
But claiming power is not the same as justifying it.
A government may enforce laws — but is it just to do so? That depends on whether people believe the authority is legitimate.
Philosophical Perspectives
John Locke – Consent of the Governed
Locke argued that government must protect life, liberty, and property. If it fails to do so, people have the right — even the duty — to overthrow it.
David Hume – The Myth of Consent
Hume questioned whether people ever really “consent” to government. Most are born into systems they did not choose.
Antonio Gramsci – Cultural Hegemony
Gramsci warned that power is not just enforced with police or armies. It is also maintained through ideas — when people come to accept domination as natural or inevitable.
What Legitimacy Looks Like
A legitimate government:
• Is widely recognized by its people
• Respects basic rights and freedoms
• Follows the rule of law — even those in power must obey
• Can be changed peacefully when it fails
But many regimes use elections or legal language to mask oppression.
So how can we tell real legitimacy from a performance?
Two Competing Ideas
Realism
Power is power. If a government can enforce its will and maintain order, that’s all the legitimacy it needs.
Moral Legitimacy
Power must serve the people. If it violates rights or silences dissent, it loses its right to rule — even if it remains in control.
A Thought Experiment
Imagine a ruler who keeps order, prevents crime, and provides basic needs.
But elections are banned, and free speech is punished.
Now ask:
• Is this ruler legitimate?
• Would you feel protected — or oppressed?
• Is justice possible without freedom?
Signs of Illegitimacy
• Rigged elections
• State-controlled media
• Suppression of dissent
• Unaccountable leaders
• Legal systems used to silence opposition
Power that fears accountability often reveals its own weakness.
Tools for Evaluating Government Power
• Know your constitution: What powers are granted — and limited?
• Examine how power is transferred: Are transitions peaceful and fair?
• Look for checks and balances: Who holds leaders accountable?
• Study protest movements: What are people risking to be heard?
Reflect and Discuss
• Do you believe your government is legitimate? Why or why not?
• Can force alone ever justify rule?
• What responsibilities do citizens have when legitimacy is lost?
Suggested Readings
• John Locke – Two Treatises of Government
• David Hume – Of the Original Contract
• Antonio Gramsci – Selections from the Prison Notebooks
• Václav Havel – The Power of the Powerless
• United Nations – Universal Declaration of Human Rights