论现代国家权力的合法性

On the Legitimacy of State Power in Modern Times

关于国家权力的合法性,虽然在不同国家和不同时期有各种观点,但关键在于社会的公认与否。在现代社会,国家权力合法性的观念基点是人民主权与法治观念上的共识,形式渊源是相关法律制度,现实基础在于公平对待人们的利益。观念、形式和现实独立存在但又相互影响,三者的差别反映了一个国家权力的实际状况,差别越小说明一国的权力状况越好。只有随着社会发展不断调整三者关系,才能始终保持现代国家权力的和谐状态。

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 differences could reflect the real situation of a state＇s power in a country; the fewer the differences, the better the situation. Modern state power will exist harmoniously only if the three are adjusted continuously with social development.