The Nature of Political Support and Legitimacy in Spain

Abstract

Drawing on data from four national surveys conducted in Spain since 1978, this article evaluates a theory of political legitimacy that incorporates three elements. The first takes into account the fact that, in instances of regime change, ordinary citizens can meaningfully compare democratic and antidemocratic political systems. The second element considers the content of interregime comparison, in particular, standards of economic growth and social equity. Third, the phenomenon of trust in private and public domains is brought into play for the purpose of specifying a distinctively democratic type of political legitimacy. Finally, the strengths and limitations of the model are discussed, with special reference to its utility in situations where regime transitions are not involved, and where the focus is on mass as well as elite politics.

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