This article aims to broaden understanding of the phenomenon of legitimacy of civil society organizations (CSOs), interpreting it in the light of the critical capacity theory, proposed by Boltanski and Thévenot (2006). More specifically, it identifies, by means of discourse analysis of representative actors from the field, which are the justifications supporting the action and existence of CSOs, providing them with legitimacy. Having as a basis the theoretical framework and an analysis of the trajectory of the field in Brazil, some hypotheses were formulated: 1) that several reasonings are used in the justifications; 2) that the meeting between these reasonings provokes disputes and conflicts; 3) that it enables constructing footbridges; and 4) that there are predominant reasonings isolating the existence of other ones. Through discourse content analysis of 46 representative actors of the field of CSOs in the Brazilian South region, the hypotheses were tested and we found out that the predominant legitimacy dimensions in these CSOs are the pragmatic and moral, which stimulate the adaptation of CSOs to externally set standards, making plurality and, thus, democracy in the field weaker.
civil society organization; legitimacy; critical capacity theory; democracy
