No one can rule without force, or the threat of force. In addition all rulers must share power. It is possible to rule without legitimacy, but no-one can rule without sharing power. Nor can anyone rule without money. The essential mechanisms of rule, therefore, are force, power sharing, and money. Politics, in short, is about death, cabals and taxes. Legitimacy, on the other hand, is merely nice to have. Legitimacy is like love. It is wonderful to be in love, but without love, sex will do. Illegitimate power remains power. Consider any illegitimate, octogenarian tyrant who.
