Williams, John (1997) The concept of legitimacy in international relations : lessons from Yugoslavia. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The thesis builds a model of 'orthodox Western' legitimacy on the basis of the interaction of
'dominant paradigms' in Western thinking about the states-system, the state and the
international economy. These are a Realist vision of the states-system, a liberal conception of
the state and a free-market, economic liberal version of the international economy. The thesis
therefore links the domestic, the international and the economic to overcome the narrow
focus on institutions and procedures in legal accounts of international legitimacy and the lack
of consideration of the international in domestic approaches. By treating legitimacy as a
value judgement the thesis also shows up the failure of existing accounts to consider the
competing and contradictory constraints on action established by the value systems tied up
with dominant paradigms. Therefore, as well as allowing for judgements against institutional
and procedural custom and practice, the model restores the normative content of legitimacy
by rooting such judgements in consistency with underpinning value systems, introducing
flexibility and prescriptive power.
The model is tested and refined by an examination of the rise and fall of Yugoslavia between
1945 and 1992. This looks at the legitimation of Tito's political and economic system and the
crisis it suffered during the 1980s. Despite the Western focus of the model it is shown to
point towards important issues in the loss of legitimacy by Yugoslavia. In particular, reasons
for the timing of its collapse and the bitterness of disputes over reform are shown to be
rooted in fundamental disagreements about value systems as the basis for re-legitimising a
post-communist country. In addition, there is a lengthy and detailed study of the efforts by
the international community to manage the crisis between 1990 and the recognition of Bosnia
in 1992. The value of the model in uncovering limitations on actions, explaining policy
choices and allowing judgement is reaffirmed and lessons for theoretical refinements are
drawn. The thesis is therefore an effort to critique and develop theoretical concepts whilst
also subjecting them to serious empirical analysis.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	J Political Science > JZ International relations
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Legitimacy of governments -- Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia -- Politics and government -- 1945-1980, Yugoslavia -- Economic conditions -- 1945-1992, Yugoslavia -- Politics and government -- 1980-1992, Yugoslavia -- Foreign relations
Official Date:	January 1997
Dates:	Date Event January 1997 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Politics and International Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Buzan, Barry ; Ferdinand, Peter
Sponsors:	University of Warwick. Dept. of Politics and International Studies
Extent:	v, 319 leaves
Language:	eng

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