In recent years, we have seen a proliferation of research on discursive legitimation, which has shed light on how legitimacy is established through communication. However, this body of work remains fragmented, and there is a need to synthesize and develop a more comprehensive and in-depth theoretical understanding of this vibrant area of research. This article aims to address this need by providing an integrative theoretical framework and outlining an agenda for future research. The framework encompasses five key elements of discursive legitimation: strategies, positions, foundations, temporality, and arenas. Drawing on this framework, we present a research agenda that highlights key topics related to these elements along with theoretical and methodological considerations cutting across them. Our contribution lies in conceptualizing discursive legitimation as a multifaceted and dynamic phenomenon, offering a complementary framework to existing models and paving the way for future studies, and placing discursive strategies—which have been the focus of prior research—in context by highlighting the critical role of key discursive elements in enabling or constraining legitimation processes.

中文翻译：

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话语合法化：未来研究的综合理论框架和议程

近年来，我们看到关于话语合法性的研究激增，这些研究揭示了如何通过传播来建立合法性。然而，这些工作仍然支离破碎，需要对这个充满活力的研究领域进行综合和发展更全面、更深入的理论理解。本文旨在通过提供综合理论框架并概述未来研究议程来满足这一需求。该框架包含话语合法化的五个关键要素：策略、立场、基础、时间性和领域。借鉴这个框架，我们提出了一个研究议程，突出了与这些要素相关的关键主题以及跨越它们的理论和方法论考虑。我们的贡促进或限制合法化过程的关键话语要素。