David Beetham

David Beetham is a political theorist known for his work on political legitimacy. He argues that for a government to be considered legitimate, it must meet three criteria: it should be based on democratic processes, it must operate within a framework of accepted legal norms, and it should have moral justifications that are understandable and accepted by the people it governs. Essentially, Beetham emphasizes that legitimacy is not just about power or authority, but about earning the consent and respect of the public in a way that aligns with democratic values and human rights.