AP Comparative Government and Politics Quiz
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POLITICAL SYSTEMS, REGIMES, AND GOVERNMENTS
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Based on the passage below, answer the question.
Political legitimacy and why it matters: Political legitimacy refers to the widely held belief that a government's authority is rightful and should be obeyed. It matters because legitimacy lowers the costs of rule: citizens comply with laws, pay taxes, and accept policy losses without constant coercion. When legitimacy erodes, states often face protest, elite defection, or abrupt institutional breakdown.
Sources of legitimacy: Legitimacy can be grounded in procedures (free elections, lawful succession), performance (economic growth, public services), and identity-based narratives (nationalism, shared history). These sources often overlap, but regimes typically emphasize those most compatible with their institutions.
China—performance and nationalism: In the People's Republic of China, the ruling party has historically emphasized performance legitimacy, tying public acceptance to rising living standards, infrastructure expansion, and administrative competence. Nationalist education and historical memory also reinforce claims that centralized rule protects sovereignty and social order. When growth slows, the regime often compensates by highlighting stability and national pride.
Russia—state capacity and national narrative: In post-Soviet Russia, legitimacy has frequently been linked to restoring state capacity after periods of disorder, alongside appeals to national revival. Economic stabilization and predictable governance can bolster support, while cultural narratives frame strong leadership as a remedy for fragmentation. However, heavy reliance on identity-based legitimacy can be brittle if daily governance appears arbitrary.
Factors shaping legitimacy: Economic performance, cultural norms about authority, and historical experiences—such as past instability or external threat—shape what citizens view as "rightful" rule. Institutional design also matters: where competitive elections are weak, leaders tend to stress order, competence, and national cohesion.
Consequences of weak legitimacy: When legitimacy is low, governments must spend more on surveillance and coercion, which can further alienate the public. Over time, low legitimacy increases the likelihood of instability, leadership turnover, or regime change, especially if elites stop believing the system can endure.
Which factor is most critical for maintaining political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes according to the passage?
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