The study deals with the micro-level factors behind the perceived legitimacy of the democratic political system. Following Lipset, we searched for evidence of evaluative support for democracy when understood as representing certain procedures and institutions, compared with the equally important and widespread support base which understands democracy in terms of egalitarian values. Using recent data from a survey of Slovenian public opinion carried out in 2011 we confirmed that support for democracy per se is largely dependent on the former "liberal" or procedural understanding, while the support it derives from those with egalitarian priorities is more ambivalent. The consequences are discussed for the prospects of resolving the conflict surrounding current cuts in social benefits spending.

Proučevali smo dejavnike legitimitete demokratičnega političnega sistema. Izhajajoč iz Lipseta, smo želeli ugotoviti, če je evaluativna podpora dejansko povezana z osrednjim razumevanjem pomena demokracije v proceduralni dimenziji, v primerjavi s prav tako pomembnimi in tudi precej razširjenimi egalitarnimi vrednotami in egalitarnim pomenom demokracije. Na podatkih iz ankete Slovensko javno mnenje iz leta 2011 smo potrdili, da je podpora demokraciji v največji meri odvisna od liberalnega proceduralnega razumevanja, medtem ko so egalitarni pomeni in vrednote v povezavi s podporo bolj ambivalentni. V razpravo vključujemo presojo posledic ugotovljenih rezultatov za možnosti premoščanja konfliktov glede trenutno aktualnih rezov v proračunu za socialne ugodnosti.