A military junta seizes power in a coup and is recognized by foreign governments under international law. Does this junta have legitimate authority?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Not necessarily. Legal recognition confers formal authority — the ability to sign treaties, access international institutions, and claim jurisdiction — but not legitimacy in Weber's sense. Legitimacy requires that those governed accept the right to rule. A junta imposed by force may lack both traditional authority (no lineage or custom supports it) and rational-legal authority (it violated existing legal procedures), and may rely entirely on charismatic legitimation attempts or coercive compliance. Foreign recognition is irrelevant to domestic legitimacy.
This question probes the distinction between legal authority (formal recognition within rule-based systems) and legitimacy (actual belief by the governed that authority is rightful). The two can diverge in both directions: a revolutionary government can have high domestic legitimacy but no international legal recognition; a junta can have legal recognition but no domestic legitimacy.
Question 2 Multiple Choice
According to Weber, which type of authority is most stable over long periods, and why?
ATraditional authority, because it is anchored in timeless customs that never require justification
BCharismatic authority, because it relies on exceptional personal qualities that inspire deep loyalty
CRational-legal authority, because it is anchored in rules and offices rather than individuals
DAll three are equally stable when properly maintained
Rational-legal authority is the most stable because it resides in the *office*, not the *person*. When a president dies or is defeated, the office persists and authority transfers according to established rules — no individual is irreplaceable. Traditional authority is vulnerable to changing circumstances that make tradition seem inadequate (colonialism, modernization). Charismatic authority is inherently unstable because it depends on the continued personal authority of one individual who will eventually die, fail, or be succeeded by someone without the same charismatic qualities.