Delegitimisation

Delegitimisation is the process which undermines or marginalises an entity by presenting value judgments as facts which are construed to devalue legitimacy.^[1] It is a self-justifying mechanism.^[2]

In 1975, "delegitimization" became a kind of "buzz word" when then-U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Daniel Patrick Moynihan accused the international body of delegitimizing Israel by passing a "Zionism is racism " resolution.^[3] After United State President Barack Obama included the term in a 2011 speech, it developed wider international currency.^[4]

Regime change

As part of the 2011 regime change in Libya, France became the first country to recognize the rebel leadership and the Libyan National Council as "the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people", effectively delegitimising the credentials of the ambassador sent by the government of Muammar Gaddafi.^[5] In September, the UN’s General Assembly voted to turn over Libya’s seat to the interim government,^[6] but Venezuela and others argued that Libya's United Nations seat should not be occupied by "an illegitimate transitory authority imposed by foreign intervention."^[7]

Theoretical background

Delegitimization theory describes a "categorization of groups into extreme social categories which are ultimately excluded from society".^[8]

For example, images of derogated target groups were published in the Italian Fascist magazine La Difesa della Razza in the 1930s. These are classified according to eight delegitimizing strategies,^[9] including trait characterisation, political labels, group comparsion, segregation, outcasting and using a delegitimized group to stigmatize another group.^[10]

The paired concepts of "legitimze" and "de-legitimize" have gained currency in discussions about nuclear disarmament.^[11]

See also

• Transitology

Notes

1. ^ Clabaugh, Gary et al. (2007). Analyzing Controversy, p. 36. at Google Books
2. ^ Volpato, Chiara et al. "Picturing the Other: Targets of Delegitimization across Time", International Journal of Conflict and Violence (Germany). Vol. 4, No. 2 (2010), p. 273, citing Daniel Bar-Tal. (1990). "Causes and Consequences of Delegitimization: Models of Conflict and Ethnocentrism," Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 46, pp. 65-89; retrieved 2011-09-19.
3. ^ Rosenberg, M.J. "Israel: 'Delegitimization' is just a distraction," Los Angeles Times (US), July 17, 2011; Lis, Jonathan. "Livni: Delegitimization of Israel exacerbates other threats," Haaretz (Israel). August 24, 2010; retrieved 2011-09-19.
4. ^ Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies) mirroring Kohen, Marcelo. "Oui au Kosovo, non à la Palestine?" Le Temps (Switzerland). September 15, 2011; excerpt, "1. «La démarche palestinienne délégitimise Israël.» (Obama, 19 mai 2011). La démarche palestinienne ne remet pas en cause l’Etat d’Israël. Au contraire, elle implique la reconnaissance de son existence et consolide la solution des deux Etats"; retrieved 2011-09-19.
5. ^ Cowell, Alan and Stephan Erlanger. "France Becomes First Country to Recognize Libyan Rebels," New York Times (US). March 10, 2011; retrieved 2011-09-20.
6. ^ Lafranchi, Howard. "A UN success story: Libya's seat turned over to interim government," Christian Science Monitor (US). September 16, 2011; retrieved 2011-09-20.
7. ^ "Venezuela oppose rebels in Libya's UN seat bid," The Telegraph (UK). September 15, 2011; retrieved 2011-09-20.
8. ^ Volpato, p. 272; retrieved 2011-09-19.
9. ^ Volpato, (abstract); retrieved 2011-09-18.
10. ^ Volpato, p. 275; retrieved 2011-09-19.
11. ^ Blair, Bruce et al. "Smaller and Safer, A New Plan for Nuclear Postures," Foreign Affairs (US), Vol. 89, No. 5, September/October 2010; excerpt, "These postures also perpetuate a mutual reliance on nuclear weapons that lends legitimacy to the nuclear ambitions of other nations"; compare Berry, Ken et al. "Delegitimizing Nuclear Weapons: Examining the Validity of Nuclear Deterrence," Monterey Institute of International Studies. May 2010; retrieved 2011-09-20.

References

• Berry, Ken, Patricia Lewis, Benoît Pélopidas, Nikolai Sokov and Ward Wilson. "Delegitimizing Nuclear Weapons: Examining the Validity of Nuclear Deterrence," Monterey Institute of International Studies. May 2010.
• Clabaugh, Gary K. and Edward G. Rozycki. (1997). Analyzing Controversy. Guilford, Connecticut: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill. 10-ISBN 0697343359/13-ISBN 9780697343352; OCLC 37662714
• Volpato, Chiara et al. "Picturing the Other: Targets of Delegitimization across Time" (abstract), International Journal of Conflict and Violence (Germany). Vol. 4, No. 2 (2010), pp. 269-287.

External links

• Brimmer, Esther. "Multilateral Cooperation Between The United States and Israel: Fighting Delegitimization, Moving Forward Together," Address at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, June 15, 2011.