Royal Commissions of Inquiry

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 289-307, 2002

31 Pages Posted: 21 Nov 2012

See all articles by George Gilligan

George Gilligan

University of Melbourne - Centre for Corporate Law

Date Written: January 19, 2002

Abstract

This article first examines the historical conditions surrounding the evolution of Royal Commissions of Inquiry, and the political and ideological functions that they may serve. The Royal Commissions of Inquiry established in Australia during the 1970s and 1980s to inquire into organized crime are discussed in order to explore possibilities for a general explanation of Royal Commissions. The conclusion reached is that Royal Commissions of Inquiry are an important component of official discourse and may perform a legitimation function for apparatuses of the state. However, Royal Commissions of Inquiry are too diverse in their effects to be tied down to a uniform explanatory model, whether based upon notions of crisis motivation or legitimation deficit.

Keywords: royal commissions, legitimacy, crisis motivation, organised crime

JEL Classification: K20, K40

Suggested Citation

Gilligan, George, Royal Commissions of Inquiry (January 19, 2002). The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 289-307, 2002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2178258

George Gilligan (Contact Author)

University of Melbourne - Centre for Corporate Law ( email )

185 Pelham Street, Carlton, Building 106
Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 1079 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law-ccl@unimelb.edu.au

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