Global Legitimacy Crises: Decline and Revival in Multilateral Governance

Global Legitimacy Crises explores the effects of legitimacy in global governance, focusing on when and how legitimacy crises impact international organizations and their ability to rule. It employs a mixed-methods approach to identify and examine legitimacy crises, using quantitative analysis of mass media data and qualitative study of two case studies. The book introduces a theoretical framework that privileges the activation inherent in a legitimacy crisis, suggesting that it can strengthen an IO's material, institutional, and decision-making capacity. The analysis reveals that the effects of crises depend on various factors, including the specific audience and institutional properties of the targeted organization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Global Legitimacy Crises delves into the profound implications of legitimacy in global governance, posing crucial questions about its impact on international organizations and their ability to govern effectively. The book begins by introducing a novel conceptualization of legitimacy crisis, which takes into account the diverse challenges posed by various actors to international organizations. Building upon this framework, the book employs a mixed-methods approach to identify and examine legitimacy crises, commencing with a quantitative analysis of mass media data encompassing challenges faced by a sample of 32 international organizations. This analysis reveals that while some organizations have indeed experienced legitimacy crises, these crises have occurred over a span of several decades, ranging from 1985 to 2020.

To delve deeper into the complexities of legitimacy crises, the book presents a qualitative study that focuses on two selected case studies: the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Contrary to previous assumptions, the book introduces a theoretical framework that emphasizes the inherent activation associated with legitimacy crises. It posits that rather than solely resulting in harm, these crises can also provide opportunities for international organizations to strengthen their material, institutional, and decision-making capacities.

A statistical analysis further underscores the multifaceted nature of the effects of legitimacy crises. It considers the specific audience whose challenges shape a particular crisis and various institutional characteristics of the targeted organization. This analysis sheds light on the complex interplay between these factors and the outcomes of legitimacy crises.

In-depth analysis of the WTO and the UNFCCC further unveils the intricate dynamics of legitimacy crises and their impact on these international organizations. It explores both the positive and negative consequences of these crises, highlighting the ways in which they have shaped the institutions' policies, decision-making processes, and overall effectiveness.

Through its comprehensive examination of legitimacy crises, Global Legitimacy Crises offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of global governance. It challenges prevailing notions about the negative consequences of legitimacy challenges and emphasizes the potential for activation and growth within international organizations. The book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities posed by legitimacy in the global arena.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192856326