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Legitimacy and the quality of democracy
Author(s) -
Morlino Leonardo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international social science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.237
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1468-2451
pISSN - 0020-8701
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2451.2010.01717.x
Subject(s) - legitimacy , democracy , accountability , government (linguistics) , political science , quality (philosophy) , public administration , democratic legitimacy , politics , law , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology
This article discusses the connections between legitimacy and the quality of democracy. The multiple dimensions of the quality of democracy are presented and it is shown that legitimacy is at the core of the definition of responsiveness. Citizens' reactions to government policies are analysed. Also stressed are the limits and constraints of considering responsiveness only in relationship to citizens' attitudes towards government and institutions. Other dimensions are taken into account, particularly electoral accountability.