TRANSFORMATION OF APPROACHES TO LEGITIMATION OF AUTHORITY IN DIFFERENT HISTORICAL PERIODS

Abstract

The article analyses the evolution of approaches to the legitimation of power in different historical periods – from the pre-modern to the post-modern era. The study examines the key mechanisms and features of legitimation that were formed under the influence of socio-cultural, political and economic changes. It is determined that in the pre-modern era, the legitimation of power was based mainly on traditions, divine law and family heredity. Monarchical and religious institutions played a central role in ensuring the stability of political systems, and the power of the ruler was perceived as a given, enshrined in the social hierarchy. It is shown that with the onset of the modern era, the legitimation of power underwent significant changes, which were associated with the spread of the ideas of popular sovereignty, constitutionalism and the rule of law. Electoral mechanisms, the development of democracy and legal regulation of government activities have contributed to strengthening the legitimacy of state power through civic participation and legal norms. It is proved that in the postmodern era, the concept of legitimation has suffered a crisis due to the growing distrust of traditional political institutions, deconstruction of grand narratives and the increasing role of virtual communications in political discourse. The state authorities increasingly rely on media and visual means of influence, which leads to a blurring of the criteria of legitimacy. Analysing these processes allows us to better understand the challenges faced by modern political systems and outline the prospects for their transformation.