Legitimacy and revolution in a society of masses : Max Weber Antonio Gramsci and the Fin de Siècle debate on social order Introduction Legitimacy and decadence:anti democratic social thought in France Legitimacy and reason of state: Vilfredo Pareto Legitimacy and modernity: Georges Sorel Legitimacy and the philosophy of history: Antonio Labriola Legitimacy charisma and disenchantment: Max Weber Legitimacy alienation and totality. Antonio Gramsci