Citation
Kitzen, Martijn. 'Legitimacy is the Main Objective': Legitimation in Population-Centric Counterinsurgency
. Small Wars & Insurgencies Vol 28, no. 4-5 (2017): 853-866. DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2017.1322331.
Theory Explanation
The author reviews sociologist Max Weber's typology of authority to inform processes of legitimation in COIN. For Weber, legitimate authority has three ideal types: (1) rational authority, based on a population's belief in the legality of a social system and the right of those with positions of authority to exercise their power; (2) traditional authority, which is rooted in the perceived legitimacy of sanctified offices or hereditary lineages; and (3) charismatic authority, which is rooted in the perceived legitimacy of an exemplar individual and their particular attributes (e.g, personality, heroism, etc.). Counterinsurgents can use rational authority to enhance political participation (e.g., by using existing legal frameworks and holding elections) or addressing population grievances using state resources to enhance the legitimacy of the state. In societies without a robust legal framework, traditional and/or charismatic authority might be used. Traditional authority can be used by co opting local leaders and incorporating them into the government, which can enable the government to address their grievances while also enhancing the government's influence over the population. Charismatic authority is unstable and only obtains legitimacy insofar as it "proves" itself in practice. The state can work to co opt charismatic leaders where possible (e.g., through alliances with warlords), but then should try to institutionalize the charismatic leader into the state, which will formalize the charismatic leader's authority through rational-legal means. There are risks to working with charismatic leaders like warlords, including failing to actually institutionalize them in the state's legal framework as well as effectively manipulating them towards the state's desired ends.
Tags
Lever of Power: Information Lever of Power: Military Lever of Power: Intelligence Lever of Power: Law Enforcement Lever of Power: Development Lever of Power: Governance Geoscope: No geoscope UN Region: No specific geographic focus DOD Region: No specific geographic focus Actor: State Target: Economic Target: General Population Target: Military Target: Political Type: Article Year: 2017
Research Background
- Research questions
- How can legitimacy be used as an effective strategy in counterinsurgency?
- Hypotheses
- Legitimacy rooted in the legal system is a crucial mechanism to obtain control over the population in counterinsurgency.
Variables or Concepts
- Independent variables & concepts
- Legitimacy
- Dependent variables & concepts
- COIN effectiveness
Methodologies
- Theory only