The “Legitimation Trap” of Political Power in the Context of the Philosophy of Universalism of Political Existence

Abstract

The article examines the contemporary state of the ways to legitimize political power in the context of the philosophy of universalism of political existence. The peculiarity of the author’s approach lies in the understanding of legitimation as a permanent institutionalized activity of political actors to ensure the legitimacy of their “political claims” not only for the implementation of political demands, as well as for obtaining or expanding political power. It is emphasized that in the course of such activities, the subjects of legitimation can fall into the “trap of legitimation” in the form of replacement of real political decisions by political populism.