Siraz, Sonia S and Claes, Björn and De Castro, Julio O and Vaara, Eero (2023) Theorizing the grey area between legitimacy and illegitimacy. Journal of Management Studies, 60 (4). pp. 924-962. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12901
Siraz, Sonia S and Claes, Björn and De Castro, Julio O and Vaara, Eero (2023) Theorizing the grey area between legitimacy and illegitimacy. Journal of Management Studies, 60 (4). pp. 924-962. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12901
Siraz, Sonia S and Claes, Björn and De Castro, Julio O and Vaara, Eero (2023) Theorizing the grey area between legitimacy and illegitimacy. Journal of Management Studies, 60 (4). pp. 924-962. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12901
Abstract
Despite a proliferation of research on legitimacy, the ‘grey area’ that lies between legitimacy and illegitimacy remains undertheorized. Responding to calls for further research, we clarify the construct of legitimacy and extend legitimacy theory by providing a conceptual framework for analyzing the legitimacy-illegitimacy continuum. First, we propose three novel legitimacy states between legitimacy and illegitimacy – conditional legitimacy, unknown legitimacy, and conditional illegitimacy – and elaborate on the distinct qualitative characteristics of the five legitimacy states. Second, we offer a model of the dynamics of legitimacy state change and the (in)stability of the issue-specific reference framework that is used to judge them. Third, we explain how our legitimacy states bridge the research streams on legitimacy judgment formation and legitimation strategies. By doing so, we integrate these research streams and enumerate discursive strategies for each state. Our paper contributes to a more robust understanding both of how legitimacy states can be conceptualized and analyzed in future research and of how they can be dealt with in managerial practice.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Discursive legitimation stratgies; Illegitimacy; Legitimacy; Polarized legitimacy; Social evaluations |
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Essex Business School |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 05 Jan 2023 09:40 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2024 21:35 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/34102 |
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