Mutual approval structure of legitimacy around right to manage grass-land as commons: Institutional substance and perceived substance among herdsmen, civil servants, and urban residents in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Abstract

In this study, legitimacy was defined as the approvability of the self or others' rights to participate in the management of commons. We identified the determinants of legitimacy as the following. These include, institutional substance based on a reference framework consisting of legally institutionalized measures, and perceived substance based on an individuals' subjective estimation, such as expertise. In this study, mutual approval structure of legitimacy pertaining to the right to manage grass-land among herdsmen, civil servants, and urban residents of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was investigated. Inconsistency among actors' evaluation of legitimacy was found, for example, herdsmen approved their own legitimacy on the basis of perceived substance, while civil servants disapproved their legitimacy by institutional substance. We discussed the importance of focusing on the mutual approval structure of legitimacy surrounding decisions dealing with public policy such as management of commons where various conflicting interests may pervade.View full abstract