Public Legitimacy Research Articles

Policing the police: Why it is so hard to reform police departments in the United States?

Why has it been so difficult to reform U.S. policing? We provide a theoretical argument that understanding of the entrenched militarisation and accountability problems of U.S. police departments would benefit from using theory in comparative research on civil–military relations. American police forces undermine local democracy by encroaching upon the decision-making powers of city officials in ways that resemble militaries in fragile democracies. Applying historical and contemporary evidence and existing scholarly research on policing, we explain police militarisation was initiated by civilian leaders of city governments to garner governmental legitimacy, and by-proxy police support, in racialised contexts. Trading off city governments’ institutional strength in order to maintain legitimacy produced opportunities for police insubordination or subversion of city government oversight of police activity. Consequently, cities with low public legitimacy and/or weak municipal institutions, faced with high demands by militarised police departments, may be more likely to experience police subversion of democratic accountability over police activity.

Large and/or single‐parent families: Public attitudes towards pronatalist and anti‐poverty family policies in Hungary

AbstractIn the 2010s, new family benefits were introduced in Hungary, focusing on large families to halt population decline. However, poverty reduction became sidelined, as these schemes benefited higher‐income earners. Based on poverty statistics, the article investigates how two family types associated with a higher risk of poverty—large families and single‐parent families—fare under this new selective pronatalist system. Furthermore, based on new representative national survey data, the article explores public support for the reforms. Although the income poverty rate for large families significantly decreased during the 2010s, it remained persistently high for single‐parent families, especially large single‐parent families. The findings indicate strong public support for state assistance to large, single‐parent and poor families and state pronatalism. However, the public prioritises support for poor, single‐parent families. This underscores a partial mismatch between public attitudes and government policy. Nonetheless, this policy probably secured public legitimacy, chiefly due to the general support for state pronatalism and large families, which were vigorously implemented in family policies, albeit selectively.

Unpacking Legitimacy Perceptions of Investment Dispute Settlement: Effects of Outcome and Procedure

Abstract How do citizens perceive different avenues for resolving investor–state disputes in case of an unfavorable decision? In this article, I argue that the interplay between procedure- and outcome-related considerations influences citizens’ legitimacy beliefs toward investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) systems. First, an unfavorable ISDS ruling should decrease public legitimacy beliefs in the country that got sued. Second, the type of dispute settlement mechanism should influence legitimacy beliefs, leading to different assessments of the legal proceedings. I fielded a survey experiment in France, Germany, and the United States to test these theoretical expectations. The findings confirm that an unfavorable ISDS ruling has a strong negative effect on public perceptions of the legal proceeding, but further show that appropriate design choices can boost public legitimacy beliefs. These results have important implications for the debate about ISDS reform and the scholarship on legitimacy in global governance. The impact of unfavorable decisions on public legitimacy beliefs has been widely overlooked.

Warisan Budaya Jember: Studi Kebudayaan Kontemporer dan Simbolisme Kesenian Can Macanan Kaddhuk

Can Macanan Kaddhuk is a traditional art typical of the Jember region, East Java. The creation of this art has become the sole meaning of Jember culture, which has its own story and has gained public legitimacy for this local culture. Events exist from the founder's subjective composition which continues to be passed down to legitimize society. This art also characterizes itself as an acculturation of several cultures around its region. So, it is very interesting that the presence of its founder at the beginning of the emergence of social culture made the beliefs dominant among each group. Moreover, the development of this culture has a very unique style, representing every art activist's interpretation. The expression of symbolic meaning and aesthetic value in the art of Can Macanan Kaddhuk requires encouragement in the post-modern world in terms of art, so the research uses a qualitative approach with appropriate methods. The results of this research show that it is not only focused on its function, namely as entertainment, but is intended as a medium for conveying the moral and spiritual messages contained therein.

Between the People and the Populists: Safeguarding Judicial Independence in a Changing World

This article examines the impact of social media on the dissemination and influence of populist ideology, as well as the strategies populist movements have employed to erode the independence of the judiciary, including public resistance, constitutional amendments, and the expansion of the judiciary. This article analyzes strategies and solutions designed to preserve and safeguard judicial independence. The in question strategy includes strengthening the legal and institutional framework, cultivating a culture that upholds the supremacy of law, increasing judicial accountability, and encouraging collaborative dialogue between judicial institutions. This paper employs a case study methodology to examine the resistance of the judiciary to populist pressures in South Africa, Colombia, and Indonesia. This article’s conclusion demonstrates that the court faces a dilemma between the importance of maintaining judicial independence from populist interests over legal requirements and the necessity of popular opinion for public legitimacy. In the context of populism, this is a challenge for judicial independence. Therefore, this paper encourages collaboration between academics, practitioners, and policymakers to safeguard judicial independence in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly developing world.

The Public Legitimacy of Multistakeholder Partnerships in Global Environmental Governance: Evidence from Survey Experiments in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States

Abstract Multistakeholder partnerships (MSPs) in global environmental governance are either praised for their problem-solving capacities and inclusion of various societal actors or criticized for their limited accountability and corporate dominance. Despite the lively scholarly debate and the continued promotion of MSPs by international organizations and governments, knowledge about how environmental MSPs are perceived by the public is very limited. Understanding the sources of public support for MSPs is important, given its crucial role in MSPs’ abilities to secure resources and achieve their goals. In this article, we evaluate whether and how institutional features of MSPs influence citizens’ legitimacy beliefs. Building on previous studies, we theorize which institutional dimensions of MSPs matter for citizens’ level of support. We conduct population-based survey experiments in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States, encompassing more than 6,000 respondents. The results from the survey experiments have substantive implications for our understanding of the role of MSPs.

The impact of business group affiliation on CO2 emissions: evidence from Chile

ObjetivoEste estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la relación entre la afiliación a grupos empresariales y las emisiones de CO2 en Chile, proporcionando información sobre las externalidades de contaminación asociadas con las estructuras de grupos empresariales y sus implicaciones para el desempeño ambiental de las empresas.Diseño/Metodología/AproximaciónSe utilizó una muestra recolectada de manera manual de instalaciones industriales y subsidiarias de empresas listadas en Chile para analizar las emisiones de CO2 de empresas afiliadas a grupos empresariales en comparación con empresas independientes. Se emplearon análisis de regresión de efectos fijos y modelos de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión para examinar las diferencias en los niveles de emisiones.HallazgosLos resultados sugieren que las empresas afiliadas a grupos empresariales tienen mayores emisiones de CO2 en comparación con empresas independientes similares. Esto sugiere que las estructuras de grupos empresariales pueden debilitar las presiones para la reducción de emisiones y el mantenimiento de la legitimidad pública entre las empresas afiliadas.OriginalidadEste estudio contribuye a la literatura sobre gobierno corporativo, riesgos climáticos y externalidades de contaminación al proporcionar evidencia empírica sobre la relación entre la afiliación a grupos empresariales y las emisiones de CO2. Destaca la importancia de considerar la influencia de las estructuras corporativas en el rendimiento ambiental, especialmente en el contexto de las economías de mercados emergentes.Limitaciones/Implicaciones de la InvestigaciónLos hallazgos de este estudio están sujetos a ciertas limitaciones, como el uso de un conjunto de datos específico de Chile y la incapacidad para explorar ciertos factores debido a restricciones de datos. Por ejemplo, no pudimos examinar la influencia de las características de los ejecutivos de las empresas en los niveles de contaminación. Investigaciones futuras deberían abordar estas limitaciones y ampliar el análisis a otros países de mercados emergentes para investigar más a fondo el impacto de regulaciones ambientales laxas o ineficaces en los resultados de contaminación.Implicaciones PrácticasLos hallazgos de la investigación tienen implicaciones prácticas para inversores y responsables políticos. Los inversores interesados en inversiones ambientalmente sostenibles deben tener en cuenta los niveles más altos de contaminación asociados con empresas afiliadas a grupos empresariales. Los responsables políticos pueden utilizar estos hallazgos para diseñar regulaciones más efectivas e incentivos para fomentar los esfuerzos de reducción de emisiones dentro de las estructuras de grupos empresariales.Implicaciones SocialesLos resultados del estudio enfatizan la necesidad de comprender de manera integral las implicaciones ambientales de la afiliación a grupos empresariales. Al reconocer el potencial de mayores emisiones en las estructuras de grupos empresariales, los interesados pueden abogar por prácticas sostenibles, fomentar la transparencia y promover una gestión ambiental responsable dentro de las entidades corporativas.

Premature Death as a Normative Concept

The practical goal of preventing premature death seems uncontroversial. But the term ‘premature death’ is vague with several, sometimes conflicting definitions. This ambiguity results in several conceptions with which not all will agree. Moreover, the normative rationale behind the goal of preventing premature deaths is masked by the operational definition of existing measures. In this article, we argue that ‘premature death’ should be recognized as a normative concept. We propose that normative theories should be used to justify measures of premature death to provide them with normative validity and public legitimacy.

Stakeholder Participation in Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Detailed Spatial Plan for Manokwari Urban Area, Papua Barat, Indonesia

Regional development as an effort to improve human welfare always has an impact on the environment. Therefore, this research aims to determine stakeholder participation in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Detailed Spatial Plan (DSP) for the Manokwari Regency Urban Area. The research was carried out from February to March 2021, where the research location in the Manokwari Urban Area which is the location for the delineation of DSP. Data collection was carried out by means of observation, interviews and secondary data studies. Observations were carried out directly during the discussion of SEA documents. The researcher describes in detail about the conditions in the field, human activities and the context in which the activities were held. Interviews were conducted by asking written questions to respondents and using prepared questionnaires. Data was analyzed using a stakeholder analysis approach to ensure aspects, including: a) determining precisely the parties that will be involved; b) guarantee the implementation of the principle of participation; c) guarantee that the results of the DSP document obtain public legitimacy; d) level of stakeholder participation. The research results show that the most dominant form of stakeholder participation is the contribution of input/suggestions and the provision of information/data from stakeholders. This means that there is a willingness and ability of the stakeholders involved to express their opinions scientifically. Stakeholders' willingness to participate can increase motivation to make changes, while the ability to participate is related to human resources and learning abilities.

Weaponizing Sexual Identities: Homosexuality as Public Scandal in interwar Romania

The present paper intends to provide a preliminary analysis of the social status of the homosexual minority in interwar Romania, applying the theoretical framework of „symbolic violence” defined by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu on the case study represented by the „Credința” press scandal from 1934-1935. The scandal opposed director Sandu Tudor and the editorial staff of „Credința” newspaper on the one hand, and Petru Comarnescu, Al.Chr. Tell, Mircea Vulcănescu and Gabriel Negry (members of the Criterion Association), on the other hand. The novelty of this study consists in integrating the press scandal into the broader scheme of social and economic interactions between different agents from the social field, emphasising their competition for symbolic capital which would legitimise them in defining the nation. The study reached the preliminary conclusions that homosexuality was a cultural identity instrumentalised and then weaponised in order to gain public legitimacy and that attributing sexual meanings to a minority was produced by groups which arrogated themselves the monopoly of moral normativity.

Strategy For Increasing Financial Accountability In Wakaf Management In Islamic Religious Organizations In North Sumatera

Accountability is a process by which an institution holds itself responsible for what it does. Accountability is not solely related to financial reporting and programs made, but also related to public legitimacy. This study aims to determine the priority of problems and solutions as well as to offer appropriate strategies for increasing financial accountability in Islamic Religious organizations in North Sumatra. This type of research uses the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method approach and the help of Super Decision software. The number of respondents in this study amounted to 11 people consisting of three academics, four regulators, and four practitioners. The results showed that according to the respondents, the priority of financial accountability issues was that financial transparency was still low, the second priority was that Nazir had not been able to prepare reports according to standards and the third priority was that the use of reporting information systems was still low. The priority solution is training in preparing financial reports for Nazir, the second priority solution is an audit and the third priority is supervision of the implementation of information systems. According to all respondents, the strategic priority is synergy between regulators, Nazirs, and mass organizations. Furthermore, the second priority is the waqf management training strategy for Nazirs. The last priority is the strategy for making a waqf development master plan.

Autocratic Legalism, Partisanship, and Popular Legitimation in Authoritarian Cameroon.

Authoritarian regimes regularly turn to the law to justify repression. This article examines whether invoking legal institutions has a persuasive effect on public perceptions of repression, and whether that effect is shaped by partisanship. The article uses the case of Cameroon's Special Criminal Tribunal, created in 2011 to prosecute high-profile corruption cases. A survey experiment was designed that describes the arrest and trial of a suspected corrupt oppositional minister and reminds a treatment group about the Special Criminal Tribunal. The results show that neither regime nor opposition partisans are swayed by legal justifications for repression. By contrast, nonpartisans respond negatively to autocratic legalism, particularly those with low levels of regime trust. The article clarifies when autocratic legalism might be used for public legitimation, suggests that partisanship is a useful lens for understanding public opinion in an autocracy, and elaborates upon the meaning of nonpartisanship in electoral authoritarian regimes.

Climate change litigation in the news: litigation as public campaigning tool to legitimize climate-related responsibilities and solutions

ABSTRACT With climate change litigation (CCL) being increasingly used by climate activists, its consequences for public discourses on climate change warrants attention. Considering CCL as public campaigning tool, this study presents a quantitative and qualitative analysis of national media coverage on three CCL cases in the Netherlands focusing on individual claims of key actors (N = 1,394). Discerning generic and issue-specific frames, this study compares general modes of justifications mobilized by different actors and specific arguments made within these normative views. Findings show that climate activists were largely successful in determining the dominant normative perspectives and the majority of issue-specific arguments of defendants were prompted by activists’ arguments. A strong focus on ecological and civic arguments, such as the responsibility for current and future generations, spurs public legitimacy while discussing solutions involved a greater variety of viewpoints which led to higher levels of controversy. The findings indicate that a separation of responsibility and solutions discourses may facilitate public legitimacy and hence benefit the goals of climate activists.

The legitimacy of land use decisions by public authorities in the Netherlands: Results from a survey experiment

Because of the ever-growing scarcity of land, decisions on land use are increasingly contested. Public authorities and policy makers rely on the legitimacy of their powers to make these decisions. This contribution empirically tests three legitimacy claims commonly used by public officials. We compare the political claim of representation of the public interest with the participative claim of co-decision and the judicial claim of neutrality and general legal norms applied equally to all. Our representative survey experiment (N = 1501) tests these claims in the context of land use decisions in the Netherlands. It appears that the participative and the judicial claim produce substantially more public legitimacy than the political claim of representing the public interest. Both co-decision and judicialization of decision-making can thus be effective ways to secure legitimacy of land use decisions.

Conjuring Up a King

Conjuring Up a King

The public legitimacy of elite athletes’ political activism: German survey evidence

Athletes have again started to take a visible stance on various political and social issues, which has stirred fierce controversies. Existing research has a strong US bias, and, to extend the range of research, we conducted a German survey on the perceived legitimacy of athletes’ political activism. The evidence suggests that the US debate cannot simply be transferred to other political and cultural contexts. The German respondents did not generally disapprove of athletes employing sporting venues as political stages. However, they are primarily willing to accept political activism in cases where the claims made are congruent with their political beliefs and with hegemonic political values. The perceived legitimacy of more controversial forms of athletes’ political activism depends on political ideology, political activism and political tolerance. For international sport governing bodies, the results indicate a dilemma: western audiences approve of athletes’ political activism, which is congruent with their own political values, but seem unwilling to accept activism making other claims.

Public Legitimation by “Going Personal”? The Ambiguous Role of International Organization Officials on Social Media

International organizations increasingly use social media to target citizens with an abundance of content, which tends to stylize officials across ranks as the “personal face” of institutional processes. Such practices suggest a new degree of access to the every day of multilateralism that has traditionally taken place on camera and with the aid of diplomatic discretion. What is more, in these practices the intuitive truth of images on social media often blends with a more credible expression of emotional states—such as enthusiasm, sympathy, anger, or shame—which facilitates the legitimation of international organizations as credible agents of shared values and norms. At the same time, however, such personalization arguably suggests a problematic dependency on the credible conduct of international organization officials as it might undermine institutional claims to depersonalized “rational-legal” authority in international politics and local arenas of implementation alike. Also, it aggravates existing problems of decoupling action in global governance from its political symbolism, because international organizations use social media by and large to communicate “top-down,” despite claiming a more personal mode of communication among peers. To illustrate this argument, the article takes on content shared by leading officials of the UN, the IMF, the WHO, and the WTO on Twitter.

Patronase Politik: Respon Bisnis Terhadap Program Tanggung Jawab Sosial Perusahaan

Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the concept of social responsibility of companies that invest in an area to be able to overcome problems that occur in a region. However, in the concept of CSR itself, there are many debates, especially regarding the relationships built between local government actors, companies, and communities in the management of CSR programs. Purpose: The objectives of this research activity are: (1) To determine state involvement in CSR programs, and (2) To determine the determination of CSR programs through political patronage. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study uses a literature review method with a qualitative research approach. The qualitative research approach is a process of research and understanding based on methods that investigate social phenomena and problems. Findings: Within the framework of the corporate social responsibility pyramid, the higher dimensions of responsibility are built on top of the lower ones, reflecting different levels of priorities and expectations in CSR practices. Originality/Value: The results prove that several forms of state involvement are common in CSR programs: (1) Arrangements and Policies that can influence companies to pay attention to social and environmental issues in their operations; (2) Incentives and Subsidies; (3) Public-Private Partnerships; (4) Law Enforcement and Supervision, the Government can supervise and monitor the implementation of CSR programs to ensure compliance and feasibility of practices carried out by the company; and (5) Community Empowerment. Here are some ways in which political patronage can influence the determination of CSR programs: (1) Resource Allocation: Political patronage can affect a company's allocation of resources to a particular CSR program. (2) Program Priorities: Political patronage can also influence the priorities of CSR programs chosen by the company. (3) Personal Gain; and (4) Creating a Positive Image: Political patronage can be used by companies to gain a positive image or public legitimacy.

The Weaponisation of Public Comment Rules in Policy Deliberations

The Covid-19 pandemic heightened already intense and increased scrutiny of public education in recent years. The administrative impulse to stage community engagement efforts to deliberate upon these questions, however well-intentioned, rarely realises full community engagement and reflection. Based on an examination of public engagement events held at Florida schools related to the Covid-19 health crisis, the proposed essay identifies a more concerning transformation of “public comment” into a weaponisable prop for lawmakers seeking the public legitimacy necessary for their agenda, marrying the worlds of critical studies with those of public administration and its orientations. More than merely failing to genuinely engage the public, we argue that such events forestall a more productive arrangement of the democratic form that does not rely on publicness and the leader that secures that space. Ultimately, we suggest a path that affords the possibility of public engagement, but that does not seal off the possibility of that more radical democratic future to come.

Legitimacy Of Public Participation In The Establishment Of Law In Indonesia

The most participatory form of the public continues, especially since the making process of the omnibus law at Law about Job Creation. Unfortunately, there is no ideal model of public participation. Even though the constitutional court has provided guidelines regarding meaningful participation. There is guaranteed access to public participation, the unanswered question is the aspect of public legitimacy. The review the weaknesses of the public participation model in the formation of the law process in Law about the Establishment of Legislation and Constitutional Court decision. Participation model only answers the formality side, not the substance in the formation of the law, and becomes a validation tool for the academic side, not the aspirations aspect or the legitimacy of the public itself. The problem will be discussed using the normative method. The problem regarding the method of legal development lies in the provisions of the development of the law itself