Towards a granular framework for operationalisation of empirical legitimacy of public authority

Turkmani, Rim ORCID: 0000-0002-7676-3085 (2024) Towards a granular framework for operationalisation of empirical legitimacy of public authority. .

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Abstract

In the context of contemporary political science, the concept of legitimacy, particularly of public authority, remains a pivotal yet complex variable. This paper critiques existing frameworks for conceptualizing and operationalizing legitimacy, which are predominantly state-centric and in particular democratic states and thus are insufficient for the use in the context of fragmented conflict settings and authoritarian regimes. Drawing from empirical research experience conducted during the Syrian conflict, the paper identifies the shortcomings of traditional models that fail to capture the nuances of legitimacy in such complex contexts. To address these issues, a new granular framework is proposed, incorporating fragmented objects of legitimacy and multiple sources of legitimacy, including legal frameworks, traditional norms, social accountability, and international cooperation. This framework aims to provide a more detailed understanding of legitimacy by evaluating various actors and institutions, both state and non-state. The paper outlines the methodology for applying this framework in empirical research, emphasizing its broader applicability beyond the Syrian case to other fragmented and authoritarian settings. This new approach seeks to offer a higher resolution image of the sources of legitimacy, facilitating better-informed policy and scholarly discourse on how to rebuild legitimate governance and authority in complex political landscapes. The framework developed in this paper is used in a inform the design of a survey and the data collection methodology that I co-developed with other colleagues at LSE. The methodology and the results of the survey will be published in a subsequent paper.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author
Divisions:	International Development
Subjects:	J Political Science
Date Deposited:	24 May 2024 15:57
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2024 19:54
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/123648

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