POLI 4064 Chapter : Authoritarian Rule In South Korea
Document Summary
It is often suggested that governmental performance contributes to support for democratic systems, and that the legitimacy of the democratic system is a function of that performance. The output effect is important in maintaining democratic stability and conversely, failure in democratic performance undermines the credibility of the system. The same is also expected to contribute to support for authoritarian regimes and failure not only leads to loss in credibility, but also contributes to the transition from authoritarian rule. An authoritarian regime that does not display positive performance in economic growth could face legitimacy issues, but there is also the possibility of political predicaments despite economic success. East asian nics were the targets of increasing popular opposition and criticism despite their individual success. The success they were experiencing did little to bolster their authoritarian legitimacy. Governmental performance is essential for their legitimacy, and by displaying governmental effectiveness authoritarian leadership tries to cope with the lack of procedural legitimacy.
