In this enormously influential book, Jurgen Habermas examines the deep tensions and crisis tendencies which underlie the development of contemporary Western societies and develops a powerful analysis of the legitimation problems faced by modern states. Habermas argues that Western societies have succeeded to some extent in stabilizing the economic fluctuations associated with capitalism, but this has created a new range of crisis tendencies which are expressed in other spheres. States intervene in economic life and attempt to regulate markets, but they find themselves confronted by increasing and often conflicting demands. As individuals become increasingly disillusioned, the state is faced with the possibility of a mass withdrawal of loyalty or support - a 'legitimation crisis'. Widely recognized as a classic of contemporary social and political analysis, Legitimation Crisis sheds light on a range of issues which are central to current debates, from the decline of class conflict and the disillusionment with established political institutions to the crisis of the welfare state. It remains essential reading for students of sociology, politics and the social sciences generally.

哈贝马斯(Juergen Habermas)生于1929年,曾先后在德国哥廷根大学、瑞士苏黎士大学,德国波恩大学学习哲学、心理学、历史学、经济学等,并以论文《论谢林思想中的矛盾》获哲学博士学位；1961年以《公共领域的结构转型》（已有中译本）一书获得教授资格。1961- 1964任海德堡大学哲学教授1964-1967任法兰克福大学哲学-社会学教授、法兰克福大学社会研究所所长1971-1983任德国马格斯。布朗克研究院科技世界生活条件研究所（Max-Planck Instut zur Erforschung der Lebensbedingungen der wissenschaftlich-techneschen Welt）所长1983-1994任法兰克福大学哲学-社会学教授,1994年退休。

退休后仍然从事研究、著述和学术政治活动。90年代,他同弟子以及现任德国外长、当时的黑森州环境部长菲舍尔一起组织政治俱乐部,定期举行政治沙龙,从政治哲学的角度讨论内政外交问题,对现政府外交政策发生了直接影响。有人认为,德国提出的欧盟改革的一揽子计划的建议就同哈贝马斯的话语政治模式有内在的联系。1998年德国大选中,哈贝马斯在关键时刻为社会民主党大造舆论,提供理论支持。哈贝马斯是当代西方马克思主义的主要代表人物,理论社会学家,哲学家,在德国、欧洲、北美哲学社会学有着广泛的影响,是已经载入各国哲学教科书和社会学理论教科书的重要思想家。他是一为多产作家,几乎每一两年就有重要著作问世。90年代有人曾说过,哈贝马斯的每一本著作的出版都是哲学界的一件大事。