In IB Global Politics, legality means conformity with applicable law, while legitimacy means that an actor, institution or decision is accepted as having a rightful claim to authority. Something can therefore be legal but regarded as illegitimate, or unlawful but viewed by some actors as legitimate.
Legality is assessed against a legal framework, such as a constitution, national legislation or international law. Legitimacy is more contestable because it depends on sources including public consent, fair procedures, political values, effective performance and international recognition.
| Basis of comparison | Legality | Legitimacy |
|---|---|---|
| Central question | Does it comply with the law? | Is its authority viewed as rightful or acceptable? |
| Main source | Formal legal rules | Consent, performance, shared norms and recognition |
| Typical judgment | Formally valid or unlawful | Legitimate, illegitimate or contested |
Belarus illustrates the distinction. After the August 2020 presidential election, national institutions declared Alexander Lukashenko the winner with 80.1% of the vote. However, mass protests followed, and the European Union rejected the result as neither free nor fair. He retained formal authority within Belarus's legal and coercive institutions, but the government's legitimacy was strongly contested because of alleged electoral manipulation and repression.
The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine shows their overlap. In March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly condemned the invasion by 141 votes to 5, reinforcing claims that it violated Ukraine's sovereignty and the United Nations Charter. Russia nevertheless attempted legitimation by presenting the invasion as necessary for security and self-defence.
A common misconception is that legal automatically means legitimate. Law establishes formal validity, but legitimacy concerns acceptance and rightful authority.
Exam technique: When asked to distinguish the concepts, define both and give a case showing their relationship. For an evaluate question, explain whose judgment matters, compare domestic and international perspectives, and conclude how legality affects, but does not determine, legitimacy.
