First published in 1989. Understanding Leisure is a readable introductory analysis of the key elements in the study of leisure. This includes leisure concepts and dimensions of leisure, its activity forms, participants, provision, and leisure futures, leisure and social theory. A collaborative work of six authors, Understanding Leisure is a textbook which introduces the reader to the interrelated dimensions of leisure in contemporary society and aims to provide them with guidelines for further study. Exercises and discussion topics are included at the end of each chapter to enable the reader to apply general theory to particular examples. The text contains seven chapters covering all aspects of the study of leisure. Starting with a critical evaluation of different concepts of leisure it progresses through an analysis of the relationship between leisure both to play and work and the diverse forms of leisure such as recreation, hobbies, crafts and education. There then follows a perspective on leisure participation, an analysis of the spatial dimensions of leisure and how relative land values can affect access to leisure. The historical context of leisure provision and the changing relationship between public and private sector is then examined which provides insights into the future of leisure, based on forecasts and theories of social change. The book ends with a discussion of how contemporary social theory contributes to an understanding of leisure. Understanding Leisure will be valuable reading for undergraduate degree courses in Leisure Studies. It will also be useful background reading for post graduate study in Leisure and Recreational Management and Tourism as well as for leisure professionals in both the commercial and public sectors.

It is difficult to fully understand the role that sport plays in contemporary global society without understanding how and why governments, NGOs and other organizations formulate and implement policy relating to sport. The Routledge Handbook of Sport Policy is the only book to offer a comprehensive overview of current perspectives, techniques and approaches to the analysis of sport policy around the world. The book introduces a diverse range of approaches to policy analysis across the full range of political and societal contexts, including developed and developing economies; state-centric, mixed economy and market-led systems, and both liberal democracies and political systems characterized by a dominant elite. It is arranged into five sections addressing the key topics and themes in the analysis of contemporary sport policy, including: theory and its implications for methodology globalization, governance, partnerships and networks elite sport policy development, sport and joint policy agendas sport policy and social theory. With contributions from leading policy analysts around the world, including Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, this book is important reading for any student, researcher or professional working in sport management, sport development, sport and society, or mainstream public policy, policy analysis or social policy.

First published in 1989. Understanding Leisure is a readable introductory analysis of the key elements in the study of leisure. This includes leisure concepts and dimensions of leisure, its activity forms, participants, provision, and leisure futures, leisure and social theory. A collaborative work of six authors, Understanding Leisure is a textbook which introduces the reader to the interrelated dimensions of leisure in contemporary society and aims to provide them with guidelines for further study. Exercises and discussion topics are included at the end of each chapter to enable the reader to apply general theory to particular examples. The text contains seven chapters covering all aspects of the study of leisure. Starting with a critical evaluation of different concepts of leisure it progresses through an analysis of the relationship between leisure both to play and work and the diverse forms of leisure such as recreation, hobbies, crafts and education. There then follows a perspective on leisure participation, an analysis of the spatial dimensions of leisure and how relative land values can affect access to leisure. The historical context of leisure provision and the changing relationship between public and private sector is then examined which provides insights into the future of leisure, based on forecasts and theories of social change. The book ends with a discussion of how contemporary social theory contributes to an understanding of leisure. Understanding Leisure will be valuable reading for undergraduate degree courses in Leisure Studies. It will also be useful background reading for post graduate study in Leisure and Recreational Management and Tourism as well as for leisure professionals in both the commercial and public sectors.

First published in 1989. Focusing on leisure and policy in West European cities, this interdisciplinary study is written by leading policy analysts and academics from six European Community states: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The emergence of leisure as a significant area of public policy in both developed and developing economies has been recognised only relatively recently, and this book was the first to deal with urban leisure policy in a European context. Common themes in this study include the use of tourism as a strategic tool for the economic regeneration of cities, leisure as a vehicle of community development and of social integration, and the role of leisure in the development of socialist municipal policy programmes. This book should be of interest to policy makers in local government, lecturers and students of development, tourism, economics, and urban studies.

Cities now seek to attract major sporting events and activities to re-image themselves, and frequently invest in community sports development to fund economic growth and regeneration. Including a range of case-studies from global (the Sydney Olympics) to local (urban school sports), this book looks closely at how sport has been used in contemporary cities across the world, and evaluates policies, strategies and managment. Five key areas are examined: * sport and urban economic regeneration * sports events: bidding * planning and organization * Urban Sports tourism * Sport and urban community development * Urban politics and sports policy. Sport in the City therefore represents an essential resource for urban policy makers and the sports policy community. It will be invaluable reading for sports studies students and urban geographers.

The wider adoption of a post-modern understanding of truth and knowledge, an acceptance of the prevalence of Orientalism inherent in much Western research, and the diminished significance of the 'local' within the rhetoric of globalization have all combined to constrain comparative and transnational research under the weight of theoretical and methodological concerns.

Transnational and Comparative Research in Sport addresses these difficulties in the context of sport studies, with the aim of developing typology which can be adopted to help re-establish meaningful transnational and comparative research. The book covers theoretical and substantive contexts and introduces a four-fold typology of approaches to comparative research, each supported by case studies and full discussion.

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The wider adoption of a post-modern understanding of truth and knowledge, an acceptance of the prevalence of Orientalism inherent in much Western research, and the diminished significance of the 'local' within the rhetoric of globalization have all combined to constrain comparative and transnational research under the weight of theoretical and methodological concerns.

Transnational and Comparative Research in Sport addresses these difficulties in the context of sport studies, with the aim of developing typology which can be adopted to help re-establish meaningful transnational and comparative research. The book covers theoretical and substantive contexts and introduces a four-fold typology of approaches to comparative research, each supported by case studies and full discussion.

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Sport has become a major industry as well as a major cultural preoccupation in the contemporary world. Cities are increasingly using major sporting events and activities to re-image themselves, promote urban development and fund economic growth and regeneration. Including case-studies from the Sydney Olympics to urban school sports, Sport in the City looks closely at how sport has been used in contemporary cities across the world, and evaluates policies, strategies and managment.
Five key areas are examined:
* sport and urban economic regeneration
* sports events: bidding
* planning and organization
* Urban Sports tourism
* Sport and urban community development
* Urban politics and sports policy.
Sport in the City therefore represents an essential resource for urban policy makers and the sports policy community. It will be invaluable reading for sports studies students and urban geographers.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203471407

It is difficult to fully understand the role that sport plays in contemporary global society without understanding how and why governments, NGOs and other organizations formulate and implement policy relating to sport. The Routledge Handbook of Sport Policy is the only book to offer a comprehensive overview of current perspectives, techniques and approaches to the analysis of sport policy around the world.

The book introduces a diverse range of approaches to policy analysis across the full range of political and societal contexts, including developed and developing economies; state-centric, mixed economy and market-led systems, and both liberal democracies and political systems characterized by a dominant elite. It is arranged into five sections addressing the key topics and themes in the analysis of contemporary sport policy, including:

• theory and its implications for methodology
• globalization, governance, partnerships and networks
• elite sport policy
• development, sport and joint policy agendas
• sport policy and social theory.

With contributions from leading policy analysts around the world, including Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, this book is important reading for any student, researcher or professional working in sport management, sport development, sport and society, or mainstream public policy, policy analysis or social policy.

'...an excellent publication...the first I have seen which puts management and planning in their proper context, i.e. relates to the principles' Conrad LaPointe, Farnborough College of Technology. This book provides frameworks through which responses to leisure management problems can be evaluated. It is aimed at students and practitioners of leisure management and has two goals. The first is to apply and evaluate management and planning principles in leisure management contexts. The second is to focus on the contribution of social theory to an understanding of leisure policy. It is written by six academics drawn from a range of disciplines.

First published in 1989. Focusing on leisure and policy in West European cities, this interdisciplinary study is written by leading policy analysts and academics from six European Community states: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The emergence of leisure as a significant area of public policy in both developed and developing economies has been recognised only relatively recently, and this book was the first to deal with urban leisure policy in a European context. Common themes in this study include the use of tourism as a strategic tool for the economic regeneration of cities, leisure as a vehicle of community development and of social integration, and the role of leisure in the development of socialist municipal policy programmes. This book should be of interest to policy makers in local government, lecturers and students of development, tourism, economics, and urban studies.