A Developmental Approach to the Legitimacy of Global Governance Institutions

Abstract

(from the chapter) Criticism of the legitimacy, or better, illegitimacy, of global governance institutions (GGIs) is common. Yet, there has been little systematic theorizing on the subject. The primary objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual and structural framework for understanding and assessing judgments about the legitimacy of GGIs. GGIs include multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as various less formal transnational judicial and regulatory networks. The framework I articulate and defend falls short of a general theory of legitimacy for GGIs. We do not yet know enough about GGIs to work out a general theory. But we do know enough to work out a partial theory, one that might frame and render more productive further investigations into GGIs and their legitimacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)