Creating legitimacy in global private governance: The case of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

Creating legitimacy in global private governance: The case of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Greetje Schouten , Pieter Glasbergen 19 April 2011 Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University

• The article looks at three deminsions in terms of legitimacy - legality, moral justifications, and consent/acceptance
• Private governance is broadly defined as “forms of socio-political  steering  in  which  private  actors  are  directly  involved  inregulating –  in  the  form of  standards  or more  general normative
  guidance – the behavior of a distinct group of stakeholders” . Legitimacy = Justification for authority. Note that volentary nature of private governance - even more requirement for authority. Legitimacy also -> efficacy and stability of institutions. Also rule makers in private goverance initiatives are also accountable to shareholders. As such their stated goals may be different to actual goals.
• Particular type of private goverance is a "rountable". These are private arrangements which-> improvements in commidity chain. Only private (non govt and NGO's) have a say. Scientists and Govt can only be observer members.
• Palm oil is a massive growth industry - used in many things. Has several sustainability issues - deforestation, erosion, biodiversity and violation of social rights. This article focuses on legality, moral justifications, and sociological approach -consent/acceptance.
• Conclusions - Creation of legality is the basis interwoven with moral justification. There are conflicts in these goals - creating consensus around legality has -> compromises on moral side which -> less strict standards which -> absense of acceptance.