There is no such thing as legitimacy. Elements of a theory of institutions

This text shows how fuzzy and even aporetic the notion of "legitimacy" is, despite its more and more widespread uses. It also shows how the notion mostly pertains to a theoreticalhumanistic and moral tone. Against this drift of institutional analysis, and relying on Spinoza's philosophy, the text suggests to drop down legitimacy as an occult quality, and rather states that institutions only persevere and work because they lean on a convenient configuration of powers and affects.