Final answer:
True, tradition is a source of legitimacy, often seen in systems like monarchies where authority is passed down by traditional rules of succession. Traditional legitimacy contrasts with charismatic legitimacy based on personal appeal, and rational-legal legitimacy founded on a system of laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Tradition is a source of legitimacy' is indeed true. Traditional legitimacy relies on the enduring practice and long-standing norms to define authority structures within a society. For example, the British monarchy operates under such a system where the role of the queen or king is passed down based on traditional rules of succession. Individuals within a traditional legitimacy framework derive their authority from their position of heredity or an established belief system, rather than through means of force or legal-rational authority as seen in modern democracies. A classic instance is that of Queen Elizabeth of Britain, whose position as a monarch is founded upon traditional legitimacy that the public respects and continues to uphold due to its historical continuity.
Another example of traditional legitimacy in history is the concept of divine right, which justified the authority of monarchs in medieval Europe. The ruler was believed to have been established by God, and thus held legitimate power granted through traditional beliefs. However, such legitimacy is contrasted by other forms, such as charismatic legitimacy, which is based on the personal appeal of an individual leader, and rational-legal legitimacy, where authority stems from an established system of laws and governance, as seen in contemporary representative democracies.