Publication

A key question confronting states that have recently transitioned from authoritarian rule is how to legitimate institutions of the state. In this paper the author argues for the supremacy of political goods, suggesting that those who rate the state positively in providing personal security, political rights and a rule of law, to be more likely to see the state as legitimate. He tests these propositions in the context of South Africa, a state that was viewed as illegitimate by the majority of individuals until very recently. Using 2008 Afrobarometer data, he finds strong support for his contention that the provision of political goods is a key determinant of legitimacy attitudes.