Social License to Operate: Legitimacy by Another Name?

Social license to operate is an increasingly used but seldom defined concept. In this article, we draw from academic, popular, and industry literature to identify and synthesize three models of social license to operate. Building on our review, we investigate the linkages between social license to operate and legitimacy and consider how the two concepts differ from and interrelate with one another. Then, we review the various methods that have been used to measure social license to operate. We conclude by discussing the implications for stakeholder engagement, evolving models of regulation, and potential avenues for future research.