Rapidità. Teoria e storia di una categoria di legittimazione del potere

Quickness. Theory, history and power legitimacy The image of the ruler who decides and acts rapidly is a key element to understand contemporary process of power legitimacy, especially in the context of a «high-speed society», strongly characterized by globalisation process and technological advances. This paper aims to analyze the political relevance of the notion of quickness in historical and theoretical perspective by assessing (1) the classical opposition between gravitas and celeritas, (2) rapidity as a dimension of efficiency in modern societies, (3) the role of quickness in Max Weber’s theory of legitimacy, and (4) contemporary arguments on political governability in relation with the imaginary of a high-speed society.