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RSC, Number 7, Issue 1, January 2015, pp. 45-67
Connections and context of political efficacy, efficiency, legitimacy, and citizenship in the 21st century
Bernard J. Malinic
School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica (Slovenia) Corresponding author's e-mail: bernard.malinic@gmail.com
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Abstract: There is an elementary citizen need for identification with the nationstate and identification with political leaders, even while this may not always be explicit. Contrary to other papers, this presents a relationship of two distinctive parts: context (circumstances) and connections (links) in interaction between citizens and political elite, where asymmetry in contemporary understanding of functioning and efficient management of nation-state relates to functions of efficacy, efficiency, legitimacy, and citizenship.
So, the question is not what kind of democratic transformations are needed to manage the recent political and social transformations, but is an understanding of connections and context of political efficacy, efficiency, legitimacy, and citizenship from the perspective between political elites and their citizens in old context and new situations.
Keywords: connection, context, nation-state, efficacy, efficiency, legitimacy, and citizenship
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Introduction
The changing processes in the world and society are called transformations. The paper reflects on the constant demand for new transformations, answers to those transformations, and a need for understanding of these transformations in the foundations on which we build our society.
Political efficacy, efficiency, legitimacy, and citizenship are the foundations of society, and are the basis for successful management of the nation-state. Constant calls for new transformations on account of interconnections and interdependence defined by the processes of globalization are producing consequences in themselves. We manage these transformations with application of new tools for leadership, governance, and management not considering for foundations. This distinctive, new style of action is denying us the foundation and understanding of the problem.
This causes a circle of never ending consequences, where applied solutions produce difficulties or problems themselves. These difficulties or problems produce a new perception of societal complexity that arises from the action of new answers to new social transformations. Complexity can be found in the interaction of two distinct parts: context (circumstances) and connections (links), which in relationship to applied new transformations, solutions, or answers to problems deny an elementary citizen need for identification with the nation-state and action to act accordingly.
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The Process of Understanding Connections and Context of Political Efficacy, Efficiency, Legitimacy, and Citizenship in the 21st Century
It could be said that the 21st century is more complex than any other century before. However, this would be a gross understatement as that statement considers only a modern perspective and ignores the perspective of former times. Or put simply "the context in which events took place is unfamiliar" (Bryden, 2014:9). This is why assessments and conclusions have their defined and un-defined sides, and where context is used to dictate connections and explanations.
The search for explanation between context and connections has and is present through the ages of social development in different forms. Trying to find measured solutions to contemporary problems was and is either time consuming or a question of chance throughout the ages from the point of pragmatic politics. The emphasis becomes more exponential when social transformations are arise everywhere, and economic questions escalate the social fabric of a nation-state from the point of strained to dangerous. The danger lies between weighted decisions and understanding of context and connection in former and new actions and passivity.
Therefore, it is an elementary, important part of leadership (political elites) to understand the definition of organizational identification in a way, as Mael and Ashforth put forward, in the form of understanding of individuals as being united in connection of being accepted in organization, in this case society, and where individual identification conveys or provides meaning in terms of adherence to a particular organization or society (1992:104).
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Simultaneously, it is necessary to account for methods of organizational citizenship behavior, which demonstrates significant beneficial effects for the organizational level, and in improvement of organizational effectiveness, allowing validation of the same through exploitation of a range of measurements (Zhang, 2011:2).
These methods reciprocally complement and allow grounded consideration needed in understanding of citizens to identify with nation-state and with that the success of its leaders. Refusing to notice something such as organizational identification in the context of managing a nation-state is not just a mistake, but ignorance of leadership or (in this case political elite) due to the assumption that the world (or somehow times) have changed, thus the priorities in decision making and managing the nation-state have changed with it. So any refusal or ignorance on account of organizational identification and organizational citizenship behavior is going to have serious consequences denying citizen need for identification with the nation-state and disallowing political leaders any possible success in managing the nation-state successfully in any context and connection.
Some things change, but some stay the same
If we proceed with an argument of successful management of nationstate under the assumption "human nature does not change much over time, but politics and technology do" (Bryden, 2014:9), then understanding the management of a nation-state stands not on what we can see and measure, but what is not distinctly seen and clearly perceived. Management and proper
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functioning of the nation-state is more of an art than science. Science needs a support of art, and art needs to understand science in implementation of political decisions and successful management of nation-state.
In the globalized world of the 21st century, political leaders see themselves as part of the political (cosmopolitan) elite that works in the transnational environment, and emphasis lies in answering the transnational questions detached from national countries. Leaders will be seen as detached and alienated from their citizen in the quest of their self-interest. And if this perceived self-interest is actual rather than merely perceived, then the alienation of citizens of national countries from the elites, will become strained and ultimately broken with severe consequences.
Key factors of successful management of nation-state, and with that government, are: citizenship, efficacy, efficiency, and legitimacy. What innovates are connections in context, the fundamental definitions stay the same.
Fundamental definitions: Four points of influence in a process
There is a considerable number of explanations for four fundamentals, but the chosen one demonstrates effectively core meaning of the structure of citizenship, efficacy, efficiency, and legitimacy in the process of successful management of the nation-state.
Citizenship - The concept of citizenship "has long acquired the connotation of a bundle of rights - primarily, political participation in the life of
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the community, the right to vote, and the right to receive certain protection from the community, as well as obligations" (Leary, 1999:247).
Efficacy - "Political efficacy describes the average ... feelings of political empowerment, and his or her perception of the government's receptiveness to public political participation. In simpler terms, political efficacy describes an individual's motivation to engage on the subject of politics, and whether he or she believes the State listens to his or her opinions" (Sharoni, 2012:119).
Efficiency - "The emphasis on efficiency is related to the fact that many countries face a demographic development that increases the demand for public services, and at the same time experience substantial fiscal deficits and public debt. Improved efficiency in public service production facilitates more services without increasing government expenditures" (Borge, Falch and Tovmo, 2004:1).
Legitimacy - "There is no such thing as universal legitimacy. It is dependent on particular contexts, circumstances and communities. Legitimacy has multiple formal and informal sources. But there is general agreement that it will be greater where there are high levels of political inclusion, participation, representation and achievement" Grounded legitimacy - "... which is a 'sine qua non' for the emergence of effective, capable and legitimate states in
vulnerable environments..... Legitimacy is grounded when the system of
governance and authority flows from and is connected to local realities" (Clements, 2014:13).
In all, the parts present an interesting condition that allows connection in context for a conceptual modeling of nation-state functioning: Government relies on Citizenship, Citizenship relies on Legitimacy, Legitimacy relies on
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Efficiency, Efficiency relies on Efficacy, and Efficacy relies on Government (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Circular process of management in nation-state functioning
f
Efficiency relies	Citizenship relies
on Efficacy	on Legitimacy
Legitimacy relies on Efficiency
Source: (Malinic, 2014)
So, for successful management of the nation-state these parts are necessary. Any attempt of separating the parts will produce consequences. Taking citizenship out would essentially dissolve everything. The idea of managing a nation-state as a corporation is known. Mike Botter expresses the fluidity of citizenship in the titles of one of his works: "if citizenship is a construct, it can be deconstructed." Furthermore, he explains that types of
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citizenships in the future will not exist in form they exist now. But new states or political arrangements will bring new forms of repetition in citizenship which is going to be called natural and eternal (2003:101). It is possible to see and feel these changes today and is nothing else but a warning that we can have a citizenship or citizenships in the future, but it will be insignificant to an individual and society.
The contemporary question about citizenship transformation is not in question. Is it a concept or construct? Does it exists or is it imagined? But more to the question of advantages (promotion of wellbeing) in connection of who benefits (cui bono). Rufus Pollock defines this through a model of objective calculation in politicians who are "responding to the incentives they are offered." As he further details; if deliberate deception includes effort or time, then strenuous effort in order to achieve a purpose demands reward for services rendered, and should be returned in and a kind of manner or method (2011:1). What we can comprehend is the play between political context and connections in the game of contemporary 'divide and conquer' that is producing the condition where "if elites lack grounded legitimacy their rule will always be precarious." (Clements, 2014:13). This means if we want a successful society and management of nation-state, we need to watch for eloquent political ways between new context and connections in old solutions.
Logic would have us believe if the evolved body is redundant for existence, than the constituent parts are redundant as well. Meaning if every part in society and the social contract is redundant then parts that are redundant (e.g. war and peace) are allowed to be used as deemed fit. So, the only things that can innovate are new connections applied to the old context
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of the social contract, where the control of how they are used is imperative. Otherwise, contemporary political eloquence will be played between context and connections for a select few at larger scales than is known today.
Engaged Examination
Management and proper functioning of nation-state is more of an art than science, and this can be identified from the play between context and connections. From history, we all know the famous maxims from the political management of Julius César "divide et impera" (divide and conquer) and "divide ut regnes" (divide and rule). A less mentioned statement of Sir Edward Coke in English parliament is also useful to consider: "Eritis insuperabiles, si fueritis ¡nseparabiles..."1 (Coke, 1797:35). 21st century contemporary political eloquence allows us to play between present or new context and connections efficiently one against each other to reach the old result from a different position; being inseparable you will be insuperable, allowing you to conquer and with that rule.
To place this into a contemporary perspective, we do not need to look too far into the distance. Contemporary inseparability of elites and groups from government has taken place, where elites or groups can conflate power through law and the legal system. Based on rhetoric, security is necessary for development, but in the same time development is, or becomes security (see Figure 2).
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Figure 2. De-jure and de-facto conflation of power through law and legal system
Source: Adapted on basis of Master Thesis: Confluence of Power: Private Military and Security Companies in Asymmetric Governance (Malinic, 2014)
This idea stems from a 21st century view of political elites, which can be explained through this excerpt by Leibfried and Mau: "The fusion of territory, law, national identity, and legitimacy in the 'nation state' can no longer be taken for granted," meaning, political elites view new ideas, situations, and supranational regulations as limiting factors for old ways of nation-state maneuvering or skilled action of political leadership (2008:XXIV). These separate developments present two things: One, a loss of real perspective of (smaller or economically weaker nation-states) political elites and leadership will concur with political decisions of other (stronger) nation-states. Internal or external politics as developing political trends allow grounds for contemporary
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ideas of the indirect dissolution of the social contract, and the carved social transformation can be seen as improvements. The other is that power groups re-strategize in the form of a new context and adapt in any idea or situation. This can be found in research of the Department for International Development in ascribed form. The development of the nation-state has greater likelihood to succeed if political agreement, which is crucial to all development, does not exclude powerful players or elite, and with that increasing the probability of conflict prevention (2010:8). Permitting us to extrapolate, that multitude of powerful players in past decades demonstrated their knowledge and understanding how the social transformations, economy, and with that connected other processes should be managed. The results have become only something of a strong desire. Solutions and adaptations are and will be present. The art is to have an understanding in decisions that will bring in forefront the most desired outcome for society in the world of singular transformations (see Figure 3).
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Figure 3. Context and connections between action, success and failure
		OLD CONTEXT -		NEW CONTEXT -		NEW CONNECTIONS		- OLD SOLUTIONS	
	REALITY:		Ignored		Confused with old and new situations	Equated with solutions		Are solutions which we use	
		OLD CONTEXT -		NEW SITUATIONS			NEW CONNECTIONS	- NEW SOLUTIONS	
		DESIRED:	Exist		We live and work		Need to be developed	Introduced	
									
Source: (Malinic, 2014)
The answer to this is control of new connections in present context and past solutions, where appropriate management in this kind of environment still allows innovation in new connections applied to old context (of social contract) with new solutions. Innovation can and will thrive and adapt to contemporary transformational processes, adjust and bring forth new solutions to answer any social, economic, political challenge which is or is going to be presented in-front of society (see Figure 4).
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Peace
War
Source: (Malinic, 2014) Summary of Findings and Conclusion
The presented paper considered alternative approaches through pragmatic prism when it comes to critical thinking and reflectivity. An aspect of pragmatism in decisions is what makes the procedure in argument possible to relate. The essence derives from combination of two sources; reflective examination of the literature and the pragmatic empirical conclusions obtained from the findings in examination.
In summary, to find the connection between government and citizens—citizens and government in the contemporary world, political elites still need to be aware of tradition and act in a sense as MacKinnon, Maxwell, Rosell, Saxena defined in traditionally distinctive manner: it is expected from governments to defend the interest of citizens and with brought revenues
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provide public goods and services. However, this should be designed in a way that allows self-reliance and avoids dependency for citizens providing nationstate with room to manouver (2003:XI).
Unlocking this potential in the nation-state and a contemporary globalized world, where social and economic transformations are processed with electronic speeds, is the responsibility of political elites and leadership to connect government to citizens and citizens to government.
Accomplishing this through establishment of new programs or the national body that can connect with citizens and deliver adaptable solutions on a variety of social or economic situations with the same effectiveness as those processes can occur or take place. Always based on appropriate management, permitting constant innovation in new connections applied to old context with new solutions to occurring transformations. Then the government can count on open connection with citizens and citizens with government.
To draw conclusion we need to take into account that when we talk about citizens and government we are in a complex mix of different factors and variables. In the contemporary world, we address these complexities with response of marshaling expertise spanning a range of disciplines to answer or solve singular changes called also transformations, not giving priority to the strategic thought of what consequences are greater for nation-state and society: singular changes/transformations or solutions/responses.
So, we need to acknowledge that not all changes are needed to be classified as transformations, and new solutions or responses in form of new transformations necessarily found. What is necessary is to allow strategic thought and strategy to guide a process of decision on necessity to respond to
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singular changes in globalized society, which influence the functioning of nation-state or society and to not allow ignorance to dictate our actions, where citizens are detached from nation-state and leadership, and vice versa.
Contemporary changes can connect and divide, but not necessarily influence the structure or foundation of nation-state or society. The decisions are those that pressure and threaten the present and future. The art of national leadership, governments, and political elites is to allow flexibility in the way the singular changes cannot be allowed to influence a nation's response in governing the nation-state.
In this context, it can be expressed that we must adjust to challenges of living in 21st century in an adaptive, responsive, and even more engaged way in nation-state government-citizens-government communication and with less reliance on globalized architecture, which purpose is to assist in decisions, communications, but will never remind us of necessity of foundations.
This can be seen in Figure 1. A modeling of nation-state functioning: Government relies on Citizenship, Citizenship relies on Legitimacy, Legitimacy relies on Efficiency, Efficiency relies on Efficacy, and Efficacy relies on Government. The purpose of the modeling presents the strategic importance in the foundation of context and connection, and simultaneously represents strategic thinking for decisions/solutions taken in organizing the society and nation-state in a 21st century globalized context.
Figure 2, is a model based on research, representing the mistaken approach of decision making in security context of nation-state and society, presenting legal growth of conflated power, allowed on grounds of fast
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pragmatic solutions without strategic thought to future strategic consequences for nation-states or society at large.
Figure 3 combines the explanation of context, connections, and action in a model of comparing contemporary social reality and social desire in nation-state leadership-governmental decisions. Underlying support can be found in the basis of figure 1 and 2. One importance lays in connection of foundation and political context. Signifying the connection and desire of the citizen to nation-state and nation-state to citizen, and two representing an example of consequence, where mistaken approach on the decision making level by government and political elite produces alienation between citizen and government, permitting contemporary thought of undermining foundation of nation-state and alienation of citizens from identifying with nation-state and the government.
This necessity to respond to changes in society on one side and responsibly to approach solutions with future in mind on the other, bring us to last (Figure 4) which is an interpretation view derived from perspective of context, meaning, no solution in 21st century society will succeed without a counter balance, and if counter balance is needed, then the center is necessary. So, why if we search for solutions or improvements in society, do we not search or improve our social fabric—the social contract?
Otherwise, we are going to be left only with "entropy [to measure] the uncertainty of a random variable" (Crocker, 2014:199). And perception of interpretation is or will be of that "the world we have made as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far creates problems that we can't solve at the same level as the level we created them at"2 (Ulrich, 2012:297), signifying
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that we are incapable of producing results with serious value, substance, or practical effect on the basis of contemporary thinking, and that knowledge is inadequate to provide a necessary level of understanding in 21st century to solve new challenges.
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Notes
1 "Eritis insuperabiles, si fueritis inseparabiles. Explosum est illud diverbium: Divide, & impera, cum radix & vertex imperii in obedientium consensus rata sunt. - You would be insuperable if you were inseparable. This proverb: Divide and rule, has been rejected, since the root and the summit of royal authority are confirmed by the consent of the subjects."
2There is no direct public conformation to cited text still it's attributed to Albert Einstein by Ulrich Rogers in this form first time in Behaviorists for Social Action Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1980, p. xxix-xxxiv.
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Figures
Figure 1. Circular process of management in nation-state functioning. Source: Malinic, 2014
Figure 2. De-jure and de-facto conflation of power through law and legal system. Source: Adapted on basis of Master Thesis: Confluence of Power: Private Military and Security Companies in Asymmetric Governance. Malinic, 2014
Accessed: http://www.fuds.si/media/pdf/dela/BERNARD_MALINIC_MAG.pdf (31/07/2014)
Figure 3. Context and connections between action, success and failure. Source: Malinic, 2014
Figure 4. New connections to old context. Source: Malinic, 2014