How Can Law Be Robust in the Face of Heightened Societal Turbulence?

ABSTRACT Taking its cue from the growing frequency of disruptive crises, new research argues that crisis‐induced turbulence calls for robust governance based on adaptation and innovation. While law plays a key role in the effort of governments to govern robustly, the robustness of law has received scant regard. To compensate for this gap, this article defines robust legality, analyzes its conditions of emergence, reflects on the different forms it might take, and considers the prospects for advancing robust legal regulation. Studying legal robustness enables public management researchers and practitioners to better understand the role of law in times of heightened societal turbulence.