Theorizing Legitimacy in Migration Research

Abstract

The concept of “legitimacy” can foster new insights and be of wide relevance to migration research: states seek to exercise “legitimate” power to regulate movement, organizations strive for “legitimacy” in their fields, and individuals want to occupy “legitimate” positions. The concept's usage, however, is largely isolated to specific contexts and cases. Those looking to engage it in their work face at least two challenges: (1) existing studies understand and apply legitimacy in different ways; and (2) there are no well-defined theoretical perspectives in the field to draw on. To facilitate such engagement, I first propose some shared understandings of legitimacy—namely a definition and conceptualization—that are widely applicable, amenable to diverse perspectives and approaches, and analytically useful. I then outline a theoretical perspective—one relating legitimacy to the actions of key players in migration (individuals, groups, organizations, states, etc.)—that can help researchers integrate legitimacy into their work, seek new avenues for future study, and bring the concept into wider conversations in the field. Finally, I illustrate how these arguments can enable new insights by expanding first on the theory of functional imperatives, followed by three substantive areas of migration research: the implementation and effectiveness of migration policies; the migration state and federalism; and status, deservingness, and social movements.