Political Legitimacy as an Existential Predicament

This essay contributes to developing a new approach political legitimacy by asking what is involved in judging the of regime from practical point view. It focused on one aspect this question: role identity such judgment. I examine three ways understanding significance for legitimacy: foundational, associative, and agonistic picture. Neither view, claim, persuasively captures dilemmas judgment face disagreement uncertainty about who “I” am “we” are. then propose composite, pragmatic view casts question as an existential predicament: it fundamentally you are—both person member collectives. The picture integrates rational, prudential, ethical qualities good that were heretofore associated with mutually exclusive theorizing legitimacy. also implies cannot be resolved philosophically.