Final answer:
Power can exist without legitimacy when control is exerted through coercion or force rather than through lawful or moral right, exemplified by a military coup that lacks public or international approval.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, one can have power without legitimacy. This scenario often occurs when a group or individual has the ability to influence actions and impose their will (power), but lacks the appropriate recognition or moral foundation (legitimacy). For instance, a military coup can grant a person or group control over a country, making them powerful without being seen as legitimate rulers by the citizens or the international community. In contrast, legitimacy is a more complex notion, often derived from the general acceptance and justification of authority by the governed. Thus, power can exist without legitimacy when force or coercion substitutes the collective consensus typically required to establish legitimate governance. Rational-legal authority, for example, derives power from established laws and procedures and is thus seen as legitimate. In essence, power represents the capacity to act, whereas legitimacy signifies the right to act within a moral or lawful framework.