Legitimacy Gained from Other Non State Actors & Stakeholders (DP IB Global Politics: SL): Revision Note
Meeting societal interests
Non-state actors use a range of strategies to gain legitimacy and approval from other actors, stakeholders and the public
The legitimacy of non-state actors can be examined through the perspective of people and the societies they live in
If an NSA is not meeting social expectations or norms, its legitimacy can be diminished.
If it demonstrates good intentions and builds up a positive image, this can improve its legitimacy.
Assessing the legitimacy of companies is very challenging because it may be considered legitimate due to the popularity of the product they produce or sell, rather than how well they meet social interests
As always with legitimacy, different actors can have very different perspectives
A company may lack legitimacy amongst some non-state actors because of its business practices yet still be able to retain legitimacy amongst consumers
Case Study
Nestlé and corporate legitimacy
Background
Nestlé is a Swiss-based transnational corporation that produces globally recognised products such as coffee, sweets and instant noodles
Millions of people regularly buy these products, so the company appears to have strong consumer legitimacy
Criticism and controversy
However, Nestlé has faced major criticism from NGOs, activists and professional organisations
Allegations include promoting baby formula over breastfeeding in developing countries, poor labour conditions in supply chains and environmental damage, including large-scale plastic production
These concerns have led to calls for consumer boycotts
Significance
Despite this, Nestlé’s overall legitimacy among consumers has not significantly declined
This may be because the company is economically very powerful and sells many different brands that consumers may not link to Nestlé
Additionally, many controversial practices occur far from consumers and are not easily visible
This shows that meeting societal interests is a key strategy for gaining legitimacy, but different groups may judge this differently
Relations with other actors and stakeholders
Non-state actors can gain legitimacy by building positive relationships with states, organisations and the public
Cooperation with governments or international organisations can increase their credibility
However, opposition to states may reduce legitimacy in the eyes of some actors while increasing it among others
Capability and achieving goals
Non-state actors can become legitimate advocates for change within wider political issues and gain legitimacy in the eyes of others due to their capability and achievements
Examples of achievements and capability of non-state actors
Private organisations award prizes for particular achievements
E.g. Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for the right of every child to receive an education
The success of businesses can lead to an increase in the recognition and legitimacy of the private individuals who started or run these businesses
Mark Zuckerburg is recognised as a legitimate authority on technology and business as the founder of Facebook (Meta)
The capabilities and achievements of humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross/ Red Crescent have meant they enjoy legitimacy, particularly in times of conflict when their operations are generally not targeted
Unlock more, it's free!
Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:
Was this revision note helpful?
