Legitimacy Crisis
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL STUDIES
STUDENT NAME: Van Rooyen, Jihad
STUDENT NUMBER: vryjih001
TUTOR: Bradford, Benjamin
TUTORIAL NUMBER: #11
ASSIGNMENT: #3
Plagiarism Declaration
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to use another’s work and pretend that it is one’s own.
2. I have used the “Harvard” convention for citation and referencing. Each contribution to, and quotation in, this essay/report/project from the work(s) of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced.
3. This essay/report/project is my own work.
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
Signature: Jvanrooyn
Word Count: 308 excluding in-text citations
Jihad Van Rooyen
POL1004F: Introduction to Politics, Tutorial Group #11
12 March 2014
Assignment #3
Legitimacy Crisis
Revolutions result in a ubiquitous change in society. This essay ascertains themes throwing legitimacy into crisis through an evaluation of the sources of the French, Russian and Iranian revolutions.
As stipulated by Max Weber in his legitimacy crisis ideals, society functions on a moral relationship between the ruler and the ruled (Hague, Harrop & Breslin, 1992:19). Non-acceptance by the ruled would result in a regime losing its legitimacy and pave way for a political break-down. This is emphasized by John Locke in the Social Contract, where he deemed that society has no moral obligation to the regime when the contract is breached (Spragens, 1997:34). Thus, legitimacy certifies political stability and must be lost before any revolution can transpire.
The French Revolution was based on the constitutional and monetary crises, which lead to instability. Thus through the failure of the regime to meet demands, legitimacy was lost and a secular revolution followed (Hague, Harrop & Breslin, 1992:72). Relative deprivation was an immediate by-factor, clearly evident through the
STUDENT NAME: Van Rooyen, Jihad
STUDENT NUMBER: vryjih001
TUTOR: Bradford, Benjamin
TUTORIAL NUMBER: #11
ASSIGNMENT: #3
Plagiarism Declaration
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is to use another’s work and pretend that it is one’s own.
2. I have used the “Harvard” convention for citation and referencing. Each contribution to, and quotation in, this essay/report/project from the work(s) of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced.
3. This essay/report/project is my own work.
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
Signature: Jvanrooyn
Word Count: 308 excluding in-text citations
Jihad Van Rooyen
POL1004F: Introduction to Politics, Tutorial Group #11
12 March 2014
Assignment #3
Legitimacy Crisis
Revolutions result in a ubiquitous change in society. This essay ascertains themes throwing legitimacy into crisis through an evaluation of the sources of the French, Russian and Iranian revolutions.
As stipulated by Max Weber in his legitimacy crisis ideals, society functions on a moral relationship between the ruler and the ruled (Hague, Harrop & Breslin, 1992:19). Non-acceptance by the ruled would result in a regime losing its legitimacy and pave way for a political break-down. This is emphasized by John Locke in the Social Contract, where he deemed that society has no moral obligation to the regime when the contract is breached (Spragens, 1997:34). Thus, legitimacy certifies political stability and must be lost before any revolution can transpire.
The French Revolution was based on the constitutional and monetary crises, which lead to instability. Thus through the failure of the regime to meet demands, legitimacy was lost and a secular revolution followed (Hague, Harrop & Breslin, 1992:72). Relative deprivation was an immediate by-factor, clearly evident through the