What is the definition of "legitimate" as it is used here? I feel like I am missing something in the language being used. Is it "Who is allowed to make a decision?" or "What decisions are allowed?" Outside of academic circles, I feel like the answer is closer to "Whoever is elected or hired is expected to make the decisions pertinent to the office or job role they fill". But that does not seem to be what you're discussing
Apologies for the slow reply -- I only just saw your message. The definition is at the beginning of the article: a legitimate political decision is one that "a government is entitled to make and that the citizens ought to obey". The question that my post and the book then explore is what makes political decisions legitimate in this sense. Some expression of the political will, for example through elections, as you mention, is just one possible answer to this question. I hope this is helpful.
What is the definition of "legitimate" as it is used here? I feel like I am missing something in the language being used. Is it "Who is allowed to make a decision?" or "What decisions are allowed?" Outside of academic circles, I feel like the answer is closer to "Whoever is elected or hired is expected to make the decisions pertinent to the office or job role they fill". But that does not seem to be what you're discussing
Apologies for the slow reply -- I only just saw your message. The definition is at the beginning of the article: a legitimate political decision is one that "a government is entitled to make and that the citizens ought to obey". The question that my post and the book then explore is what makes political decisions legitimate in this sense. Some expression of the political will, for example through elections, as you mention, is just one possible answer to this question. I hope this is helpful.