Legitimating ideology

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A legitimating ideology, a term used by sociologists C. Wright Mills and others, refers generally to any ideology which is used to legitimate the actions or policies of states.^[1]

The legitimating ideology employed may or may not have an apparent connection to the substance or form of the actions or policies being legitimated by the ideology.^[1] It is primarily a term used when making a critical analysis of religious institutions, and corporate and state actions and policies.