Legitimating Identities: The Self-Presentations of Rulers and Subjects

From military despots to democratic presidents, rulers spend much time convincing themselves of their right to be in charge. This important and original new survey draws on a growing body of research in political science, history, and sociology to reveal how governments devote time, resources, and energy to cultivating their own sense of who they are, not for the benefit or persuasion of the public, but for their own self-justification and esteem.