The legitimacy of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is poorly theorized in development studies literature, where it is usually seen as dependent on accountability, performance and representativeness. This `technical' approach masks deeper questions about legitimacy - for whom, for what, and how it is created. This article applies an institutional perspective from organizational theory to the analysis of NGOs. The approach emphasizes the multifaceted nature of legitimacy and the effect of organizational environments and dominant cognitive models on organizational forms and activities. The article presents legitimacy as socially constructed and raises questions about issues of power in the attribution of legitimacy. The article concludes by considering how analysis may be taken beyond institutional approaches and the contribution that can be made by anthropological perspectives, particularly an understanding of the role of discourses.
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