There is a heated debate underway on the legitimacy of global activists, a war of words (and sometimes stones and teargas) that is rarely examined from top to bottom. This latest book by Canadian commentator Van Rooy scrutinizes the new legitimacy rules, arguing that they have real impact on how our world is governed. In dissecting representation, rights, experience, expertise, moral authority and other evolving rules of legitimation, Van Rooy points to her own proposals for global supplementary democracy.

ALISON VAN ROOY'S research on civil society includes Nongovernmental Voices in Multilateral Organizations (an ongoing series at The North-South Institute), the Canadian Development Report 1999: Civil Society and Global Change (1999); and Civil Society and the Aid Industry (1998). She is currently on leave from the Canadian International Development Agency.