Original scientific paper

POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR POLITICAL SYSTEM

Vladimir Vujčić ; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The author analyzes the types of support for political system. His analysis shows that there are three basic types of political support (to the national identity and pride, to the legitimation and to confidence) which correspond to the three basic units of political system (political community, political government/regime, and authorities). Each form of support serves to maintain the political regime on the whole, but each is independent of the others – or the influence solely goes one way: from the lower to the higher forms of support (from confidence via legitimation and to political identity). While the higher forms of support are primarily abstract, normative and affective in their nature, the lower forms are mostly empirical, instrumental, and cognitive in their definition. In the future, citizens are going to increasingly appraise political systems on the whole according to the totality of their performances i.e. according to their evaluation of how and how much a system meets their needs, demands, and expectations. This will broaden the meaning of legitimation; it will no longer refer to the validity of a system (its procedurality) but to its efficacy as well. This will make life more difficult and complex for those in the position of power. These types of confidence warrant empirical research in order to determine their level, etiology, and functionality.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

31971

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31971

Publication date:

9.9.1999.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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