The Responsibility of an Audience: Assessing the Legitimacy of Non-elected Representatives in Governance Networks

Non-elected actors in governance networks are legitimate representatives when the constituency accepts their claims of representation. However, not all constituents have resources to approve or oppose this Consequently, I argue that audience, often decision-making authority, which enables non-elected act as has a responsibility consider legitimacy. Drawing on seven business and urban development Norway, article explores how authority considers credibility, qualifications connectedness legitimise networks. Through interviews with civil servants politicians organising participating network, relevant documents observations, demonstrates legitimises based credibility rather than constituency. The believes grounded specialist expertise, self-representation shared experiences representatives. Similarly, truthful considered legitimate. Finally, is divided regards interactive process between representative content