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.{{Cite journal |last=Tyler |first=Tom R. |date=September 2005 |title=Introduction: Legitimating Ideologies |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11211-005-6822-4 |journal=Social Justice Research |language=en |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=211–215 |doi=10.1007/s11211-005-6822-4 |issn=0885-7466|url-access=subscription }}

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. It is primarily a term used when making a critical analysis of religious institutions, and corporate and state actions and policies.