Communicative bases of the legitimacy of power in the optics of representatives of the youth environment: social and political aspects

Abstract

The purpose of this study is a socio-philosophical analysis of the communicative mechanisms of power legitimization and to identify the characteristics of their perception among young people. The relevance of the study lies in the transformation of public communication under the influence of digitalization, the development of the internet, and the expansion of public debate, which are changing the interaction between society and political institutions. The problem is that classical models of legitimacy insufficiently explain the recognition of power by modern youth. Elements of Max Weber's sociological concept and Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action are used as a historical and methodological basis. The principle of historicism, the method of cultural-philosophical analysis, and systems analysis are employed. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the socio-philosophical understanding of the communicative mechanisms of power legitimization in the context of the transformation of the modern public sphere and the analysis of the characteristics of youth's perception of the legitimacy of political institutions. The analysis concluded that the legitimacy of power is increasingly dependent less on legal procedures and more on inclusion in public debate and the ability to reasonably justify decisions. An analysis of international cases shows that restrictions on digital communications and a lack of transparency are perceived by the younger generation as exclusion from the public sphere, which leads to a weakening of the communicative foundations of legitimacy even while the formal legitimacy of power is maintained. The conclusion is that young people are not objects, but active subjects, in the communicative legitimization of power, and their reactions serve as an indicator of the state of the public sphere and the quality of governance communication. The sustainability of power requires transparency, explainability of decisions, and a presence in everyday digital communication. Prospects for further research lie in the empirical study of specific forms of youth digital participation and the development of effective models of dialogue between the state and youth audiences.