Inside Political Science #042 – Is the Government Legit?

What does it mean to be a legitimate institution? Are government institutions still representing citizens? In this episode, Kirby sits down with Soren Jordan, associate professor at The Bush School of Government & Public Service, to discuss how science guides political methodology. Soren emphasizes the importance of data interpretation and representation, noting that representation is essential for gathering accurate data, but what does it mean to be represented? If meaningful representation is lacking, does that mean the system is broken? Later, they explore the values that drive public policy, with Soren arguing that politics reflects values. As those values shift, Kirby questions whether the legitimacy of the government changes with it. He adds that many Americans like the idea of democracy, but are not satisfied with how it’s currently functioning. So, does a governmental institution’s legitimacy depend on the people? For more on this show and to listen to past episodes, visit tx.ag/insidepoliticalscience.