On the Legitimacy of State Power in Modern Times
论现代国家权力的合法性

Although there are many opinions on the legitimacy of state power in different countries and periods,a key problem is whether the legitimacy is acknowledged by the whole nation. The legitimacy of state power in modern society is based,conceptually,on the consensus of popular sovereignty and the rule of law; formally,on related laws,and in reality,on justice to the interests of the people. The conceptual,formal,and real foundations of legitimacy exist independently,but each affect the others. Their differenc...