1. Political Authority

This chapter explores the concept of political authority, focusing on its normative basis and the principles that confer legitimacy on political institutions. It begins by defining political authority as the moral basis that allows a system of political institutions and officeholders to make decisions for others and enforce those decisions when necessary. The chapter then delves into the historical context of political authority, examining the exchange between Thrasymachus and Socrates in Plato's Republic and Rousseau's critique of the precept 'might makes right'. It also discusses the distinction between normative and de facto political authority, arguing that normative authority cannot be reduced to de facto authority. The chapter further explores the connection between constructivism and political authority, proposing that constructivism provides a promising way of formulating normative political principles. It also touches on the methodological turn in political philosophy, suggesting that political philosophers might develop methods for formulating the content, scope, and justification of political principles that rely on techniques appropriate to the political domain. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications of political authority for the legitimacy of political institutions and the obligations of those they govern.