This article suggests that understa

This article suggests that understanding legitimization processes of private governance initiatives requires a
multi-dimensional approach. This suggestion has been operationalized in three aspects that can be used to
better understand such processes: legality, moral justifications, and consent/acceptance. These aspects are
based on different theoretical traditions and are applied in an analysis of the process of creating legitimacy of
the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This empirical research reveals the characteristics of the
legitimization process of the RSPO and shows the value of a multi-dimensional approach. The three
perspectives complement each other and deepen our insights in legitimization processes by revealing
tensions and trade-offs in the different ways in which non-state market driven governance arrangements can
create legitimacy.

7. Conclusion
This article took a multi-dimensional approach to analyze legitimization
processes of the RSPO, by looking at three aspects grounded in
different theoretical approaches: legality, moral justifications, and
consent and acceptance. The research reveals specific characteristics
of the legitimization process and showsthe value of amulti-dimensional
approach. The three perspectives complement each other and deepen
our insights into sources of legitimization of private governance
arrangements, partly by revealing tensions and trade-offs in the
different ways in which private governance initiatives can create
legitimacy.
Our analysis reveals that the three perspectives do not refer to
factors that independently contribute to legitimacy. An order of
sequence has become visible, in which creating legality must be
regarded as the basis of the legitimization process. Interwoven with
this process of legalization is the creation of moral justifications. If
both are secured this is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for
legitimacy, as creating consent and broader acceptance of a private
governance initiative calls for additional activities. This all should be
seen as a dynamic process.
Our analysis further highlights several tensions and trade-offs
between the three elements of the legitimization process. The
inclusion of a large variety of stakeholders and basing decisions on
consensus are crucial for the legality of the Roundtable. This has
generated various compromises in the moral justifications underlying
the content of sustainable palm oil. These compromises lead to a less
strict standard, which in turn leads to the absence of acceptance of
many NGOs, which reduces legitimacy. Thus, while the legality of the
RSPO contributes to its legitimacy, it leads to a lack of acceptance of
Tier II audiences, thereby compromising its popular legitimacy.
Furthermore, moral justifications for one stakeholder can be a reason
for another actor to withhold consent or acceptance.
While the RSPO has been able to develop widely accepted rules of
power concerning representation, participation, neutrality and procedural
regularity, the implementation of these rules has proven to be
difficult at times. The principles of representation and participation are
taken seriously in the RSPO and transparency and consensus are key
concepts in decision-making processes, but the equal representation of
stakeholders is still problematic. So far, the inclusive approach of the
RSPO has been unable to resolve all conflicts. While on paper all
elements of legality have been established, they seemto failwhen there
are conflicts between powerful actors in the Roundtable.
Creating moral justifications is of vital importance to the legitimization
process and is also needed to appeal to a broader audience. The
RSPO is surrounded by a complex of justifications; these justifications
differ for different – internal and external – stakeholders. However, a
common ground for collaboration was created by pragmatically
accepting these differences, by refraining from an ideological debate
on the concept of sustainability, and by leaving out controversial issues.
However, in this casewe see a set of justificationswhich does not allow
initial objectives of all stakeholders to be met in a significant way.
For a large part internal legitimacy is realized by creating legality
and moral justifications, but the authority of the RSPO has not been
entirely established by these two elements of the legitimization
process. Creating acceptance of the RSPO is vital for establishing
external legitimacy as well as for reinforcing internal legitimacy.
The RSPO has not been able to ensure consent and acceptance of
many NGOs working on palm oil issues. Nonetheless, we have argued
that these external NGOs have a tremendous influence on the RSPO.
The scope of the RSPO within the palm oil market is not, at least not
yet, very wide and many parts of the world continue to show no
interest in the RSPO.

Results (Indonesian) 1:

Artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa memahami proses legitimasi tata kelola pribadi inisiatif memerlukanpendekatan multi-dimensi. Saran ini sudah dioperasionalkan pada tiga aspek yang dapat digunakan untuklebih memahami proses tersebut: pengesahan, pembenaran moral dan persetujuan/penerimaan. Aspek iniBerdasarkan tradisi teoritis yang berbeda dan diterapkan dalam analisis proses pembuatan legitimasiThe Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Penelitian empiris ini menunjukkan karakteristikproses legitimasi RSPO dan menunjukkan nilai pendekatan multi-dimensi. Tigaperspektif saling melengkapi dan memperdalam kami wawasan dalam proses legitimasi dengan mengungkapkanketegangan dan trade-off dengan cara yang berbeda di mana non-negara pasar didorong tata pemerintahan dapatmembuat legitimasi.7. kesimpulanArtikel ini mengambil pendekatan multi-dimensi untuk menganalisis legitimasiproses RSPO, dengan melihat tiga aspek yang didasarkan padapendekatan teoritis yang berbeda: pengesahan, pembenaran moral, danpersetujuan dan penerimaan. Penelitian mengungkapkan karakteristik tertentulegitimasi proses dan showsthe nilai amulti-dimensipendekatan. Tiga perspektif saling melengkapi dan memperdalamkami wawasan sumber legitimasi tata kelola pribadipengaturan, sebagian dengan mengungkapkan ketegangan dan trade-off didifferent ways in which private governance initiatives can createlegitimacy.Our analysis reveals that the three perspectives do not refer tofactors that independently contribute to legitimacy. An order ofsequence has become visible, in which creating legality must beregarded as the basis of the legitimization process. Interwoven withthis process of legalization is the creation of moral justifications. Ifboth are secured this is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition forlegitimacy, as creating consent and broader acceptance of a privategovernance initiative calls for additional activities. This all should beseen as a dynamic process.Our analysis further highlights several tensions and trade-offsbetween the three elements of the legitimization process. Theinclusion of a large variety of stakeholders and basing decisions onconsensus are crucial for the legality of the Roundtable. This hasgenerated various compromises in the moral justifications underlyingthe content of sustainable palm oil. These compromises lead to a lessstrict standard, which in turn leads to the absence of acceptance ofmany NGOs, which reduces legitimacy. Thus, while the legality of theRSPO contributes to its legitimacy, it leads to a lack of acceptance ofTier II audiences, thereby compromising its popular legitimacy.Furthermore, moral justifications for one stakeholder can be a reasonfor another actor to withhold consent or acceptance.While the RSPO has been able to develop widely accepted rules ofpower concerning representation, participation, neutrality and proceduralregularity, the implementation of these rules has proven to bedifficult at times. The principles of representation and participation aretaken seriously in the RSPO and transparency and consensus are keyconcepts in decision-making processes, but the equal representation ofstakeholders is still problematic. So far, the inclusive approach of theRSPO has been unable to resolve all conflicts. While on paper allelements of legality have been established, they seemto failwhen thereare conflicts between powerful actors in the Roundtable.Creating moral justifications is of vital importance to the legitimizationprocess and is also needed to appeal to a broader audience. TheRSPO is surrounded by a complex of justifications; these justificationsdiffer for different – internal and external – stakeholders. However, acommon ground for collaboration was created by pragmaticallyaccepting these differences, by refraining from an ideological debateon the concept of sustainability, and by leaving out controversial issues.However, in this casewe see a set of justificationswhich does not allowinitial objectives of all stakeholders to be met in a significant way.For a large part internal legitimacy is realized by creating legalityand moral justifications, but the authority of the RSPO has not beenentirely established by these two elements of the legitimizationprocess. Creating acceptance of the RSPO is vital for establishingexternal legitimacy as well as for reinforcing internal legitimacy.The RSPO has not been able to ensure consent and acceptance ofmany NGOs working on palm oil issues. Nonetheless, we have arguedthat these external NGOs have a tremendous influence on the RSPO.The scope of the RSPO within the palm oil market is not, at least notyet, very wide and many parts of the world continue to show nointerest in the RSPO.