Understanding Political Power and Legitimacy

Political Power and Legitimacy

Political power, as understood by powerful politicians, involves the authority responsible for enforcing laws. We obey the law out of fear of punishment. Throughout history, there have been various understandings of political power:

• Absolute: Grants political authority all powers (legislative, executive, judicial).
• Democracy: Power is distributed among various institutions (e.g., the executive branch runs the government; the legislature makes laws; the judiciary judges). In a democracy, the law takes precedence over the ruling power.

Legitimacy: The basis upon which political power rests. It concerns:

• The manner in which the person possessing authority acquired it.
• The exercise of that power, guided by the laws dictated by the authority.

Origins of Political Power

Divine Origin

Legitimizing authority by stating that power comes from God. People receive power from God to exercise on His behalf. This is called Theocracy.

Christian Origin

They believe that power is divided, according to God's will, into two great spheres (spiritual and temporal). Authority over spiritual matters belonged to the Church, while secular affairs were exercised by the king. The king received power from God to lead. The affirmation that civil authorities should be subject to the commandments of the Church gave rise to political Augustinianism. Currently, this view defends autonomy and independence, but with nuances.

Islamic Origin

Social and moral laws are derived from the Quran. The ideal Islamic society requires the integration of religion into the political sphere.

Origin from the People

The people should elect their rulers. The people are the only sovereign, and power resides with them. This form of power is Democracy.

Influential factors include:

• The new conception of the human being that emerged during the Renaissance (emphasizing human appreciation, reason, and freedom).
• The emergence of the bourgeoisie in political life, which influenced the resurgence of the idea that the people are the sole sovereign.

Social Contract Theory

Society arises from a contract or agreement, rather than being natural. The social contract represents the transition from a state of nature to society. These theories are sometimes called methodological fictions because they use hypothetical events or inventions to explain how power is vested in the people and to explain the origin and legitimacy of political power.

Access to Political Power

Traditional Access

This consists of transmitting power from father to son within a family (e.g., Monarchy).

Charismatic Access

This involves gaining power through popular acclamation, rather than by vote or universal suffrage (e.g., Fidel Castro).

Legal-Rational Access

This is the method of gaining power in a democratic society. Access to power is approved through laws established by the people. This is currently considered the only legitimate way of gaining power.

Legitimate Exercise of Power

Power is legitimate when exercised to perform and promote laws that are just. Laws are considered just when approved by Parliament, in accordance with the constitution, and when they respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.