Contestability

Definition

Contestability is stronger than permission to complain. A system is meaningfully contestable when criticism, appeal, review, replacement, or correction can actually alter the challenged outcome or authority.

Also used here as: meaningful appeal, challengeability.

Why it matters

Decorative channels can preserve the appearance of participation while leaving the distribution of power untouched. The legitimacy report asks whether channels for change can genuinely threaten continued possession of power.

Relationships

Source basis

This public definition is a reviewed synthesis derived from:

• The Legitimacy of Rebellion: When Political Authority Loses Its Moral Claim to Obedience

The source basis identifies where the concept came from; it does not imply affiliation or endorsement by an external source.