Sustaining Legitimacy

Lily Lee

6 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers sustaining and losing legitimacy in comparative government. It examines sources of legitimacy (e.g., economic growth, political efficacy, charismatic leadership, rule of law) and factors that undermine legitimacy (e.g., corruption, lack of free elections, economic decline, social unrest). Examples from six course countries (Russia, UK, China, Mexico, Iran, Nigeria) illustrate these concepts. The guide also provides exam tips, practice questions (multiple-choice and free-response), and key terms to remember.

#AP Comparative Government: Sustaining and Losing Legitimacy 🚀

Hey! Let's dive into how governments keep their power and what makes them lose it. This is crucial for understanding how political systems work, and it's a big deal on the AP exam. Let's make sure you're ready to ace it!

#Unit 1: Sustaining Legitimacy

#Maintaining Legitimacy 💪

Legitimacy isn't a given; it's something governments have to work at. Think of it like keeping a plant alive—you need the right conditions! Here’s how they do it:

Source of Legitimacy	How it maintains legitimacy (example!)
Strong Economic growth	When the economy is booming, people tend to be happier with the government. For example, Nigeria's 🇳🇬 oil boom in the 1970s boosted government support because people saw more jobs and money. 💰
Political Efficacy	This is about people believing they can influence politics. In the UK 🇬🇧, many citizens feel they have a say, which gives the government more legitimacy. They feel like their voice matters! 🗣️
Charismatic Leadership	Think of Putin in Russia 🇷🇺. His strong, nationalistic image and ability to project power makes people support him. It's about that personal connection and feeling like he's a strong leader. 💪😍
Expansion of Rule of Law	This means everyone, even the government, is under the law. Mexico 🇲🇽 uses its constitution to ensure everyone is on the same level, reinforcing the rule of law and giving the government legitimacy. ⚖️

Key Concept

Legitimacy is not static; it must be actively maintained through various strategies.

#Unit 1: Losing Legitimacy

#Losing Legitimacy 📉

Okay, so what happens when things go wrong? Governments can lose legitimacy for all sorts of reasons. Here are some examples from our course countries:

Russia 🇷🇺: Mass protests against election fraud in 2011 showed that people didn't trust the system, leading to arrests of opposition members. 😠
The UK 🇬🇧: Brexit has caused a lot of political and economic problems, making the Conservative Party struggle and lose some of its support. 😕
China 🇨🇳: The high conviction rate (99.3%) used to punish activists protesting the slowing economy shows that the government is losing support. 😟
Mexico 🇲🇽: The government's inability to deal with organized crime is a big problem and hurts its legitimacy. 😞

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Key Concept

Devolution and delegation of powers can also contribute to inefficiency and loss of legitimacy.

For example, in Mexico, the lack of coordination between states in fighting organized crime makes the problem worse.

Iran 🇮🇷: Human rights abuses have caused people to distrust the government. 😠
Nigeria 🇳🇬: Lack of free and fair elections, despite having an election commission (INEC), has led to distrust in the political process. 😒

Common Mistake

Don't just memorize examples. Understand why these situations lead to a loss of legitimacy.

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

Okay, time to focus on what really matters for the exam. Here’s what you should be sure to review:

Sources of Legitimacy: Make sure you know the different sources (traditional, charismatic, rational-legal) and how they are maintained.
Factors Leading to Loss of Legitimacy: Understand how corruption, lack of free elections, economic issues, and social strife can undermine a government’s authority.
Case Studies: Be ready to use examples from the six countries to illustrate your points. Know the specific events and how they affected legitimacy.

#Last-Minute Tips ⏰

Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
FRQs: Always answer the question directly and use specific examples from the course countries. Don't just write general statements!
MCQs: Read each question carefully. Look for keywords that can help you eliminate wrong answers.

Exam Tip

When answering FRQs, use the specific vocabulary from the course. For example, instead of saying "the government is bad," say "the government lacks legitimacy due to corruption."

Memory Aid

Remember "CLEE" to recall the main reasons for loss of legitimacy: Corruption, Lack of free elections, Economic issues, Ethnic strife.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

Which of the following is the BEST example of a government maintaining legitimacy through political efficacy? (A) A country with a long history of hereditary rulers. (B) A country with a strong economy and high employment rates. (C) A country where citizens believe they can influence political decisions. (D) A country with a charismatic leader who inspires national pride.
A regime is MOST likely to lose legitimacy due to which of the following? (A) An increase in international trade. (B) A period of economic prosperity. (C) The implementation of new social programs. (D) Widespread corruption and lack of fair elections.

#Free Response Question (FRQ)

Prompt: Explain how a government maintains legitimacy and describe two ways in which a government can lose legitimacy. Use specific examples from two course countries in your response.

Point-by-Point Scoring Breakdown:

Point 1: Explanation of how a government maintains legitimacy (1 point)
- Example: A government can maintain legitimacy through strong economic growth, which leads to increased public satisfaction.
Point 2: Specific example of how a government maintains legitimacy from one course country (1 point)
- Example: Nigeria's oil boom in the 1970s increased government legitimacy due to economic prosperity.
Point 3: Description of one way a government can lose legitimacy (1 point)
- Example: A government can lose legitimacy due to widespread corruption.
Point 4: Specific example of how a government loses legitimacy from one course country (1 point)
- Example: Russia's 2011 election fraud protests led to a loss of legitimacy for the government.
Point 5: Description of a second way a government can lose legitimacy (1 point)
- Example: A government can lose legitimacy due to a lack of free and fair elections.
Point 6: Specific example of a second way a government loses legitimacy from another course country (1 point)
- Example: Nigeria's history of election irregularities has led to public distrust and loss of legitimacy.