THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT: democracy, legitimacy and political crises

Abstract

Despite the recent increase in reflections on political crises and setbacks, distrust of the legitimacy of democratic regimes has permeated much of the debate in Political Theory and Science in the 20th and 21st centuries. This article theoretically addressed challenges to political legitimacy in democratic regimes, proposing that the challenges and frustrations generated by institutions and the distribution of welfare be taken into account. After presenting some interpretations of recent political crises that emphasize cultural transformations, the article defended the importance of instrumental voluntary adherence, which encompasses the strategic dimension of adherence to democratic rules and practices by political elites and voters. The realization of fundamental freedoms, incentives provided by electoral institutions, and the distribution of welfare were treated as fundamental to considering the challenges of democratic legitimacy.

KEYWORDS
Democratic theory; Crises of democracy; Culture and democracy; Political institutions; Economic inequalities