University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Arts
  • School of Social and Political Sciences
  • School of Social and Political Sciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Arts
  • School of Social and Political Sciences
  • School of Social and Political Sciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Towards a 'pluralist' world order: creative agency and legitimacy in global institutions

    Thumbnail
    Download
    Published version (173.6Kb)

    Citations
    Scopus
    Altmetric
    1
    Author
    Macdonald, T; Macdonald, K
    Date
    2020-06-01
    Source Title
    European Journal of International Relations
    Publisher
    SAGE Publications
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    MacDonald, Kate; MacDonald, Terry
    Affiliation
    School of Social and Political Sciences
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Macdonald, T. & Macdonald, K. (2020). Towards a 'pluralist' world order: creative agency and legitimacy in global institutions. European Journal of International Relations, 26 (2), pp.518-544. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354066119873134.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/252282
    DOI
    10.1177/1354066119873134
    ARC Grant code
    ARC/LP110100426
    Abstract
    This article addresses the question of how we should understand the normative grounds of legitimacy in global governance institutions, given the social and organizational pluralism of the contemporary global political order. We argue that established normative accounts of legitimacy, underpinning both internationalist and cosmopolitan institutional models, are incompatible with real-world global social and organizational pluralism, insofar as they are articulated within the parameters of a ‘statist’ world order imaginary: this sees legitimacy as grounded in rational forms of political agency, exercised within ‘closed’ communities constituted by settled common interests and identities. To advance beyond these statist ideational constraints, we elaborate an alternative ‘pluralist’ world order imaginary: this sees legitimacy as partially grounded in creative forms of political agency, exercised in the constitution and ongoing transformation of a plurality of ‘open’ communities, with diverse and fluid interests and identities. Drawing on a case study analysis of political controversies surrounding the global governance of business and human rights, we argue that the pluralist imaginary illuminates how normative legitimacy in world politics can be strengthened by opening institutional mandates to contestation by multiple distinct collectives, even though doing so is incompatible with achieving a fully rationalized global institutional scheme.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [53102]
    • School of Social and Political Sciences - Research Publications [1148]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors