合法性是政治学的一个重要概念,但它不是某一专门学科的专有术语。哲学和政治学、法学、社会学近年来都十分关注合法性问题。一般来说,合法性或政治合法性指的是政治统治依据传统或公认的准则而得到人民的同意和支持。当人民对终极权威愿尽政治义务时,这一权威就具有合法性。合法性被看做是有效统治和政治稳定的基础。很显然,只有当政府获得人民自愿的拥护时,其统治才更有效力,更能保持政局的稳定。相反,如果统治的合法性受到怀疑乃至否定,政府的动员和贯彻能力将会被削弱,最终导致政治动荡。所以“合法性”也就是指民众对于现存政治秩序和政权的信 Legitimacy is an important concept in political science, but it is not a jargon of a particular discipline. Philosophy and political science, law, sociology in recent years are very concerned about the issue of legitimacy. In general, legitimacy or political legitimacy refers to the political consent of the people, with the consent and support of the people, based on traditional or generally accepted norms. This authority is legitimate when the people are willing to make their political obligations to the ultimate authority. Legitimacy is seen as the basis for effective rule and political stability. Obviously, the government is more effective and more able to maintain political stability only when it obtains the voluntary support of the people. On the contrary, if the legitimacy of the dictatorship is suspicious or even denied, the mobilization and implementation capacity of the government will be weakened, which will eventually lead to political turmoil. So “legitimacy ” means the public’s letter to the existing political order and power