This paper conceptualizes political competences at the system level of capabilities to
function as “legitimation capacity” in a policy context. It identifies trust in the political, social,
economic, and security spheres as the key element driving this capacity. Trust ensures that
state actions and institutions are perceived as legitimate and receive public support, which
in turn allows political skills to be exercised, preventing political or institutional decay and
policy ineffectiveness. Conceptualization of legitimation capacity as comprising trust across …