Call for Papers | 4th International Workshop on Organizational Legitimacy
8-9 June, 2026 | Aix-Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence (France)

We are delighted to announce the 4th International Workshop on Organizational Legitimacy, themed: Advancing Legitimacy Frontiers: New Perspectives and Challenges

Building on the success of the previous editions at the University of Lausanne (2023),  Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2024), and EMLYON (2025) this workshop continues to provide an international forum for advancing legitimacy research in management and organization studies.

The workshop aims to:

• Advance state-of-the-art legitimacy research
• Provide developmental feedback on research-in-progress
• Foster collaboration and intellectual exchange among scholars

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Cross-border and transnational legitimation processes
• Temporal dynamics of legitimacy judgment formation and change
• Legitimacy in digital and AI-driven organizational contexts
• Legitimacy and organizational responses to grand challenges
• Novel approaches to measuring and operationalizing legitimacy
• Legitimacy at the intersection of multiple institutional logics
• Inclusive, minority, and migrant entrepreneurship and legitimacy
• States of legitimacy along the legitimacy–illegitimacy continuum

Who should apply?

Scholars at all career stages are welcome. Early-career researchers (PhD students, postdocs, assistant professors) are especially encouraged to submit.

Submission Guidelines

• Extended abstract (up to 1,000 words, excluding references)
• Submission deadline: 15th February 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 15 March 2026

Submit to:

legitimacyaix@gmail.com

More information:
https://legitimacy-research.org/workshop-aix/

Registration fee (meals and a gala dinner included) –  Payment details will be provided to the selected participants via email upon final confirmation.

• PhD students: €80
• Faculty (early bird registration by 15 May): €150
• Faculty (regular): €200

Participating Experts include:

• Alex Bitektine, Concordia University, Canada
• Björn Claes, The Open University, United Kingdom
• Patrick Haack, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Laura Illia, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
• Anna Jasienko, University of St Gallen, Switzerland
• Gerardo Patriotta, Bath School of Management, Bath, UK
• Eric Schoon, The Ohio State University, USA
• Sonia S. Siraz, emlyon business school, Lyon, France
• Roy Suddaby, University of Victoria, USA
• Eero Vaara, University of Oxford, UK

The experts will give presentations, lead developmental roundtables, and facilitate interactive
discussions.

We warmly thank FEG, IAE, and CERGAM for their support.

The Organization’s team:

• Bénédicte ALDEBERT (Professor in entrepreneurship, FEG Aix-Marseille University)
• Daisy BERTRAND (Research Engineer at CERGAM)
• Ramzi BENAMARA (PhD student at FEG Aix-Marseille University)
• Ali GHODS (Associate Professor in entrepreneurship, IAE Aix-Marseille University)
• Amandine MAUS (Associate Professor in entrepreneurship, FEG Aix-Marseille University)
• Antonin RICARD (Dean of IAE Aix-Marseille University)