Northern Ireland and the Independent Parades Commission: Delegation and Legitimacy

The issue of parades remains contentious and retains the potential to lead to violence on the streets of Northern Ireland. This article uses delegation theory to examine the accusations of illegitimacy which have been made against the Independent Parades Commission (IPC). It finds that only a small number of these accusations stem from the traditional concerns that delegated bodies are unelected and unaccountable. The claim that delegated bodies lead to superior outcomes (output legitimacy) is made by some actors but contested by the Loyal Orders and unionist politicians. The argument that delegated bodies enjoy legitimacy as a result of their superior process (procedural legitimacy) is made frequently. However, the IPC processes are also a source of accusations of illegitimacy. Finally, the ethnonational conflict context raises particular issues with the legitimacy of the delegated body.