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Constructive Conflict Guide >
Civic Knowledge and Skills That We All Need to Constructively Handle Intractable Conflict >
Reconciliation
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BI Article
Legitimacy
It is important to take legitimacy into consideration in the formation of any conflict resolution process. Otherwise, any agreement reached, no matter how visionary, is unlikely to hold. Leaders, too, must have legitimacy; otherwise their power is tenuous.
Related Folders
Electoral Processes
Electoral processes have been widely challenged with charges of gerrymandering, voter suppression, illegitimate voters, erroneous counting, and unfair (though legal) procedures (such as the U.S. electoral college which sometimes allows a candidate who lost the popular vote still win the presidential election).
Colleague Activities
Bridging Divides Initiative Report: Election 2020 Political Violence Data and Trends
A report on the events leading up to and following Jan. 6 show that patterns of behavior exhibited that day were established long before that date.
News and Opinion
Activism and Apathy Are Poisoning American Politics
A look at the dangers of a political system that focuses so much of its attention on its angriest citizens -- those that are convinced that the other side's views are wholly illegitimate..
News and Opinion
How to Know When a Prosecution Is Political
A practical guide for determining when political prosecutions arise from legitimate efforts to equitably enforce the rule of law and when they are disingenuous tactics used to weaken a political rival.
News and Opinion
One-third of Clinton supporters say Trump election is not legitimate, poll finds
News and Opinion
A crisis in U.S. presidential legitimacy is looming
An exploration of the likely possibility that the U.S. 2024 election might not produce a result that the losers view is fair and legitimate.
News and Opinion
Is Retribution Illegitimate?