nonlegalism

English

Alternative forms

• non-legalism

Etymology

From non- +‎ legalism.

Noun

nonlegalism

1. The act or state of being nonlegal; an attitude or approach that favors a lack of hierarchy and legal strictures and prefers situational negotiation.
   • 1982, William H. Clune, The Deregulation Critique of the Federal Role in Education, page 38:

     Within each dimension of organizational activity (B.1,2, & 3 in the table), in moving from the legalistic to the deregulatory mode, two kinds of changes occur: first, thre is less supervision by the external, lawmaking agency; and, second, to the extent supervision and interaction remain, the style (or mode) is more flexible, spontaneous, innovative, discretionary, and so on. (No wonder nonlegalism is emotionally appealing!)

   • 1989, Law & Inequality - Volume 8, page 459:

     […] nonlegalism is often contrasted to the legalism of other ' patriarchal ' systems.

   • 1999, Nisuke Andō, Japan and International Law, page 229:

     In the GATT dispute settlement procedures, Japan believed in nonlegalism or pragmatism, and preferred negotiaion and diplomatic settlement.

   • 2009, John W. Limbert, Negotiating with Iran, page 55:

     In the balance between legalism and nonlegalism, the latter prevailed. The Iranians avoided legal arguments about the exact meaning of Article VI of the 1921 Soviet-Iranian friendship treaty (see Qavam's comment to Stalin above).

2. (religion, theology) An approach to religion that stresses faith and love over specific religious strictures.
   • 2019, Patricia Ambrose Welker, Seeking to Become Whole:

     In contrast, Bawer continues that progressive or liberal theology or nonlegalism puts love at its center, with spiritual experience, priesthood of all believers, and the Great Commandment.