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© The Author(s) 2020
S. Sareen (ed.), Enabling Sustainable Energy Transitions,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26891-6_2
CHAPTER 2
A Typology of Practices of Legitimation
to Categorise Accountability Relations
Siddharth Sareen
Abstract This chapter presents the central element of an accountability
analysis approach—a typology of four practices of legitimation: discursive,
bureaucratic, technocratic and financial. These are empirically derived and
defined in generic terms as social relations premised on accountability.
Their study can characterise accountability under energy transitions.
Discursive legitimation practices normalise certain perspectives over others through textual and spoken interventions across a variety of forums.
Bureaucratic legitimation practices, often codified and sequential, validate
some actions and actors and constrain others. Technocratic legitimation
practices perform systematic checks and approval of actions that entail
technical expertise. Financial legitimation practices, often spatially remote
and materially elusive, enable actors to block action or to fulfil financial
requirements and proceed with material actions, shaping sectoral change.
Keywords Practices of legitimation • Discursive • Bureaucratic •
Technocratic • Financial
S. Sareen (*)
Department of Geography, Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation,
University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
e-mail: Siddharth.Sareen@uib.no
© The Author(s) 2020
S. Sareen (ed.), Enabling Sustainable Energy Transitions,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26891-6_2
CHAPTER 2
A Typology of Practices of Legitimation
to Categorise Accountability Relations
Siddharth Sareen
Abstract This chapter presents the central element of an accountability
analysis approach—a typology of four practices of legitimation: discursive,
bureaucratic, technocratic and financial. These are empirically derived and
defined in generic terms as social relations premised on accountability.
Their study can characterise accountability under energy transitions.
Discursive legitimation practices normalise certain perspectives over others through textual and spoken interventions across a variety of forums.
Bureaucratic legitimation practices, often codified and sequential, validate
some actions and actors and constrain others. Technocratic legitimation
practices perform systematic checks and approval of actions that entail
technical expertise. Financial legitimation practices, often spatially remote
and materially elusive, enable actors to block action or to fulfil financial
requirements and proceed with material actions, shaping sectoral change.
Keywords Practices of legitimation • Discursive • Bureaucratic •
Technocratic • Financial
S. Sareen (*)
Department of Geography, Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation,
University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
e-mail: Siddharth.Sareen@uib.no