David Beetham is Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Leeds, UK.

'By far the best account of legitimacy available. This is a welcome new edition of the book that displaced the work of Max Weber to become the definitive treatment of a concept that stands at the centre of social life and politics everywhere.' - Bruce Gilley, Portland State University, USA 'No better analysis exists of the factors that combine to render power being seen as rightful. David Beetham, uniting the skills of social scientist and political philosopher, brings unusual clarity and depth to this ancient question. He has updated the examination of how different political systems answer it and, in two stimulating new chapters, further sharpens the analysis and applies it beyond and below the level of the state.' - Steven Lukes, New York University, USA

• Preface to the 2nd editionPreface to the 1st editionIntroductionPART I: THE CRITERIA FOR LEGITIMACY1. Towards a Social-Scientific Concept of Legitimacy2. Power and its need of Legitimation3. The Intellectual Structure of Legitimacy4. Social Science and the Social Construction of LegitimacyPART II: LEGITIMACY IN THE MODERN STATE5. Dimensions of State Legitimacy6. Crisis Tendencies of Political Systems7. Modes of Non-Legitimate Power8. Legitimacy in Political Science and Political Philosophy9. The Legitimation of Power in the 21st CenturyPART III: LEGITIMACY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY10. Legitimacy Within the State11. Legitimacy Beyond the State.

David Beetham is Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Leeds, UK.

'By far the best account of legitimacy available. This is a welcome new edition of the book that displaced the work of Max Weber to become the definitive treatment of a concept that stands at the centre of social life and politics everywhere.' - Bruce Gilley, Portland State University, USA 'No better analysis exists of the factors that combine to render power being seen as rightful. David Beetham, uniting the skills of social scientist and political philosopher, brings unusual clarity and depth to this ancient question. He has updated the examination of how different political systems answer it and, in two stimulating new chapters, further sharpens the analysis and applies it beyond and below the level of the state.' - Steven Lukes, New York University, USA

• Preface to the 2nd editionPreface to the 1st editionIntroductionPART I: THE CRITERIA FOR LEGITIMACY1. Towards a Social-Scientific Concept of Legitimacy2. Power and its need of Legitimation3. The Intellectual Structure of Legitimacy4. Social Science and the Social Construction of LegitimacyPART II: LEGITIMACY IN THE MODERN STATE5. Dimensions of State Legitimacy6. Crisis Tendencies of Political Systems7. Modes of Non-Legitimate Power8. Legitimacy in Political Science and Political Philosophy9. The Legitimation of Power in the 21st CenturyPART III: LEGITIMACY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY10. Legitimacy Within the State11. Legitimacy Beyond the State.

David Beetham is Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Leeds, UK.

'By far the best account of legitimacy available. This is a welcome new edition of the book that displaced the work of Max Weber to become the definitive treatment of a concept that stands at the centre of social life and politics everywhere.' - Bruce Gilley, Portland State University, USA 'No better analysis exists of the factors that combine to render power being seen as rightful. David Beetham, uniting the skills of social scientist and political philosopher, brings unusual clarity and depth to this ancient question. He has updated the examination of how different political systems answer it and, in two stimulating new chapters, further sharpens the analysis and applies it beyond and below the level of the state.' - Steven Lukes, New York University, USA

• Preface to the 2nd editionPreface to the 1st editionIntroductionPART I: THE CRITERIA FOR LEGITIMACY1. Towards a Social-Scientific Concept of Legitimacy2. Power and its need of Legitimation3. The Intellectual Structure of Legitimacy4. Social Science and the Social Construction of LegitimacyPART II: LEGITIMACY IN THE MODERN STATE5. Dimensions of State Legitimacy6. Crisis Tendencies of Political Systems7. Modes of Non-Legitimate Power8. Legitimacy in Political Science and Political Philosophy9. The Legitimation of Power in the 21st CenturyPART III: LEGITIMACY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY10. Legitimacy Within the State11. Legitimacy Beyond the State.