Representative Democracy and the Crisis of Legitimacy

Democracy, aristocracy, oligarchy, dictatorship, despotism, totalitarianism, absolutism and anarchy – each of these forms of government faces the fundamental challenge of finding a balance between the two crucial criteria of efficiency and legitimacy. While efficiency describes how quickly and effectively a government can react to current challengeslegitimacy on the acceptance and recognition of government authority by the population. The question of the extent to which citizens recognize the decisions and general authority of the government is closely linked to the stability and existence of any political system. Often these two principles are in a tension relationship: A system that is highEfficiency strives for sacrificing legitimacy, since fast decisions are usually accompanied by less say and less social support. Conversely, a very strong orientation towards participation and social support can slow down the decision-making processes and weaken the government’s ability to act.

Dictatorship versus Democracy: The Dilemma of Efficiency and Legitimacy

In a dictatorship in which a single person or a small group makes all decisions, resolutions and measures can be implemented particularly quickly. Efficiency is out of the question here, because compromises, lengthy negotiations or public debates hardly play a role. However, this form of government is generally lacking in persistent legitimacy, becausePopulation is not included in decision-making and often perceives itself as an object of state arbitrariness. The acceptance of the political leadership is therefore usually low and in extreme cases can lead to resistance, unrest or even revolutionary movements. On the other side of the spectrum are democratic systems in which the decision-making process is often lengthyis because many voices belong, weigh and consider. Although this intensive participation leads to greater acceptance and legitimacy, the decision-making processes can be significantly lengthened, which can prove to be a disadvantage in crisis situations or in urgent problems.

The search for the optimal balance

Democracy is often considered the least unfavorable form of government, as it attempts to combine both criteria. She is looking for a meaningful balance between efficiency and legitimacy. Democratic systems are designed to gain the support and trust of citizens without increasing the government’s ability to actsacrifice. However, this balance is a sensitive construct that is subject to constant adjustments. Criticism of a lack of efficiency or a lack of legitimacy is by no means rare. Democracy is similar to a captain who, on a restless sea, constantly maintains the balance of his ship by moving the center of gravity. Depending on the waves, democracy mustFocus once more on efficiency, then more on legitimacy again. At the same time, however, Western democracies are currently facing a crisis of both principles. It is no longer just a slight swaying in the calm seas, but rather a threatening storm that shakes the political landscape.

Symptoms of the legitimacy crisis: decrease in voter turnout

A central symptom of the crisis of legitimacy in Western democracies is the steady decline in voter turnout. Fewer and fewer citizens are using their right to vote to participate in political decision-making. In earlier decades, voting was considered a natural and civil duty. Today, however, millions of voters stay away from the polls.In some countries, this development has become so intensified that the abstinence from the election has become the strongest political current, although it is rarely observed or discussed publicly. Even in countries with voting obligations, such as Belgium, the number of non-voters is constantly increasing. It is particularly worrying that the lower voter turnout is not based on individual socialgroups is limited, but runs across all classes and age groups. In addition, while postal voting is considered a way of increasing voter turnout, there are still considerable doubts about their reliability and security.

Instability through voters’ migration

Another striking sign of the erosion of legitimacy is the increasing instability of voter loyalty. More and more citizens are opting for different parties or movements in consecutive elections. The times when political ties were maintained over generations seem to be over. Voters are more flexible, more critical andLess willing to give a party a permanent voice. The term “electoral volatility” describes this phenomenon: Voters change their preferences more frequently, resulting in significant political shifts and unpredictable election results. This development makes it difficult for the parties to form stable majorities and to implement reliable political programs. thePolitical landscape becomes more insecure, the formation of governments more complicated. Parties have to keep repositioning themselves, adapting their positions and promoting the trust of citizens.

shrinking party landscape

In addition to the falling voter turnout and growing voter migration, the membership base of the political parties is also shrinking. Fewer and fewer citizens are opting for a strong bond with one of the established political organizations. There is a significant decline in party memberships in almost all European countries. The reasons for this are manifold:On the one hand, many citizens no longer feel sufficiently represented by the existing parties, on the other hand there is increasing skepticism about political institutions in general. Distrust of the parties is growing, which is reflected in public perception. Political parties are often considered to be aloof, non-transparent and not very close to the citizens. inThe decline in membership is so serious in numerous countries that the parties have lost more than half of their former members. This development raises the question of how representative the political parties and parliaments are under these circumstances.

Impact on the legitimacy and functioning of democracy

The interaction of these developments – the falling voter turnout, the growing migration of voters and the decline in members in the parties – poses serious challenges for the legitimacy of parliamentary democracy. If fewer and fewer people are willing to take part in elections and at the same time their connections to parties are dwindling, the democratic system will losesupport and credibility. The central question is: Is a parliament that only represents a part of the population really still representative? In extreme cases, should the proportion of non-voters lead to a quarter of the seats in Parliament remaining vacant? Democracy is faced with the task of finding new ways to reintroduce citizens more andto gain political participation.

Focus on the political level: national dynamics and their importance

The national level of the government is particularly suitable for a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing democracy. Although local, regional and supranational structures also exist, they often unfold their dynamics depending on national politics. Especially at the national level, the course for political culture and thatsocial climate. This is where the fundamental problems and potentials of democracy are reflected in a special way. National development has in turn affects the other levels and influences how it works.

New challenges and the future of democracy

The current crises of legitimacy and efficiency are an expression of profound social changes. The reasons range from increasing individualization and digitization to the change in the media landscape to new forms of political participation beyond traditional parties. Democracy is faced with its structures and processesmodernize without losing their basic principles. It is important to regain the trust of citizens, to open up new forms of participation and to strengthen the acceptance of the political system. At the same time, the ability to act must not be lost so that democracy is also able to overcome complex challenges in the future.

Balance between efficiency and legitimacy

The balance between efficiency and legitimacy remains the central challenge of any political system. The current developments make it clear how fragile this balance can be and how important it is to continuously reflect and further develop both aspects. Democracy must always reinvent itself in order to adapt to changing social conditionsreact and maintain the trust of citizens. Only in this way can she assert her role as a sustainable and sustainable form of government.