Ideal-typical constructions of legitimate orders of power and their foundations

Abstract

Maintaining the legitimacy of power is one of the key tasks of the ruling elite. The possession of means of coercion and the ability to use them against the unwanted is not a sign of a good regime, as the basis of legitimacy is the trust of the object of governance (society) in the subject of governance (the ruling elite). Undoubtedly, there are many different legitimate orders, but in order to conduct a full-fledged study of them in the future it is necessary to construct their ideal types, starting from the works of classical political theory and from political practice. The aim of this article is to formulate and analyze ideal-typical constructions of legitimate orders of power and to identify their foundations. Undoubtedly, digital technologies are making their mark on the nature of the political order of society, but one cannot ignore the diversity of political regimes in different countries: from authoritarianism to democracies of different shades. But each ideal type of legitimate order has its own basis of legitimacy: from tradition and law to norm and public knowledge. Over time, power orders change: they become more humane and accessible to communication between the authorities and the population, which they begin to hear and try to coordinate their actions with the wishes of society.