Delegitimisation

Delegitimisation (also spelled delegitimization) is the withdrawal of legitimacy, usually from some institution such as a state, cultural practice, etc. which may have acquired it explicitly or implicitly, by statute or accepted practice. It is a sociopsychological process which undermines or marginalises an entity by presenting facts and/or value judgments that are construed to withdraw legitimacy and can in some cases be a self-justifying mechanism, with the ultimate goal of justifying harm of an outgroup.

The concept applies to a wide spectrum of social contexts ranging from disputes about political entities to chronic illnesses.