When citizens see their government as legitimate, they believe that it is working for the interests of the whole country. For this reason, citizens are more likely to compromise if there is a conflict between their needs and the needs of others. They are usually more willing to sacrifice because they trust that the government is thinking about the needs of the whole country. Also, legitimate governments are more likely to have processes that resolve conflicts fairly. For these reasons, legitimate governments are usually better at dealing with social conflict. This often makes them more peaceful and more stable.

In contrast, illegitimate governments cannot rely on the people to compromise if there is a conflict. If the people think that the government is only trying to serve its own interests (or the interests of selected groups), they won’t be willing to give anything up to find a solution. Illegitimate governments are also less likely to have clear and fair processes for resolving conflicts. Legitimate governments rely on rules to settle conflicts. They rely more on the use of force or coercion to enforce a solution. Illegitimate governments do not rely on rules because people see their rules as illegitimate. The result of this is that people either ignore the government, or actively fight against it. This level of conflict can cause governments to be very unstable and create serious social problems such as organized crime or even civil war.

Political Parties, Legitimacy and Stability

Since political parties serve as a bridge between citizens and the government, they facilitate the expression of citizens’ interests, needs and concerns through stable and legitimate institutions. Where citizens lack the capacity to advance their interests though political parties, expression can often take the form of protests, industrial action (e.g., strikes) or even violence. Well-functioning political parties thus reduce the risk that conflicts will intensify and destabilize the political system.

Furthermore, in a democracy, citizens vote for political parties and political leaders to act in their interest. They are therefore more prepared to grant them decision-making authority when difficult and controversial decisions must be made. When the executive, or large sections of the parliament are members of political parties who came to power through democratic elections, this provides those parties with a clear mandate for leadership. This can promote both stability and decisiveness during times of national crisis.