You're Grounded! Towards a theory of enactive legitimation, materiality and practice

TY - JOUR

T1 - You're Grounded! Towards a theory of enactive legitimation, materiality and practice

AU - Nicolini, Davide

AU - Reinecke, Juliane

AU - Ismail, Muhammad Aneeq

PY - 2020/6/1

Y1 - 2020/6/1

N2 - In this paper, we explore the specific nature of material-based legitimation and examine how it differs from other forms of legitimation. Prior studies of institutional legitimacy have predominantly focused on the discursive and iconic aspects of legitimation, with much less focus placed on the role of materiality. To advance our argument, we introduce the notion of enactive legitimation. We suggest that legitimation is derived from and supported by the ongoing engagement and interaction with materials and material-based practices. To elaborate our argument, we study a case of the use of material signification to legitimise a new financial product within Islamic banking. We show that the legitimacy of the product is grounded in materials and the materiality of a number of ritualised practices. Materials and practices, however, also impose their own specific constraints on the process, and do so in ways that are more evident than when legitimation is based on signs and symbols (both language and images). The paper contributes to practice-based institutionalism by leveraging one of the central tenets of practice theory to extend the understanding of legitimation. It also illustrates what practice-based sensitivity may look like in action.

AB - In this paper, we explore the specific nature of material-based legitimation and examine how it differs from other forms of legitimation. Prior studies of institutional legitimacy have predominantly focused on the discursive and iconic aspects of legitimation, with much less focus placed on the role of materiality. To advance our argument, we introduce the notion of enactive legitimation. We suggest that legitimation is derived from and supported by the ongoing engagement and interaction with materials and material-based practices. To elaborate our argument, we study a case of the use of material signification to legitimise a new financial product within Islamic banking. We show that the legitimacy of the product is grounded in materials and the materiality of a number of ritualised practices. Materials and practices, however, also impose their own specific constraints on the process, and do so in ways that are more evident than when legitimation is based on signs and symbols (both language and images). The paper contributes to practice-based institutionalism by leveraging one of the central tenets of practice theory to extend the understanding of legitimation. It also illustrates what practice-based sensitivity may look like in action.

KW - practice theory

KW - institutions

KW - legitimacy

KW - materiality

KW - Islamic banking

M3 - Article

SN - 0733-558X

VL - 71

JO - Research in the Sociology of Organizations

JF - Research in the Sociology of Organizations

ER -