One characteristic feature of the modern era is the establishment of which of the following as dominant sources of political legitimacy?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Democracy and nationalism
Option (1) Secularism and citizenship — Incorrect. Secularism is about how the state stands towards religions, and citizenship is a person's legal membership of a state. Neither of them is a dominant source of political legitimacy of the modern era.
Option (2) Democracy and secularism — Incorrect. Democracy is half right, because 'the people' are the final source of legitimacy. Secularism is a principle about religion and the state, so it does not complete the pair.
Option (3) Democracy and nationalism — Correct. The modern era set up democracy and nationalism as the dominant sources of political legitimacy. Today 'the nation' is the most accepted justification for a state, and 'the people' are the final source of legitimacy of the nation.
Option (4) Nationalism and citizenship — Incorrect. Nationalism is half right. Citizenship comes from belonging to a state and does not justify the state's power, so it is not the second source.
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