Politics and Policy in Sport

The aims for this module are set into the context of the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and they relate to the SEEC level descriptors for level 2 study. The aims of the module are:

1. To outline key concepts that underpin a critical analysis of sport policy
2. To assess different theories of the policy process
3. To assess competing theories of society, state and power

In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for level 2 study, by the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Critically analyse sport policy using key concepts;
2. Critically evaluate different theories of the policy process
3. Critically evaluate competing theories of society, state and power.

Politics and Policy in Sport provides the context for: theorising the policy process; critiquing key themes that underpin contemporary sport policy; applying a critical analysis to selected policy initiatives and programmes and drawing on key theories and concepts.   This module is intended to encourage students to think critically and analytically about sport policy.  Centrally, it will pose the question: to what extent and in what ways has sport policy both reflected and contributed to wider relations of power in society.

Specifically, students will study the following content:

• Thinking critically about sport policy: Sport as Body Culture
• The State and Sport: Politics, Power and Policy
• The Policy Process: Key concepts and perspectives
• UK Sport Policy: Organisation and governance.
• Contemporary Sport Policy: Elite sport development
• A range of contemporary policy issues e.g. Anti-racism and sport policy; doping policy; sport and health; the 2012 Olympics.

Contact time:

• Lectures,
• Seminars,
• Formative student presentations

Non-contact time:

• Guided and independent reading,
• Individual and group tasks, relating to student presentations in contact time
• Assessment preparation 

There are numerous examples of learning resources for this module. Indicative examples include:

Books:

Beamish, R. and Ritchie, I. (2006) Fastest, Highest, Strongest: a critique of high performance sport, London: Routledge.

Coakley. J and Dunning, E. (Eds.) (2000) Handbook of Sport Studies, London: Sage.

Gard, M. & Wright, J. (2005) The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality and Ideology, London: Routledge.

Green, M and Houlihan, B (2005) Elite Sport Development: Policy Learning and Political Priorities, London: Routledge.

Henry, I. (2001) (2^nd edition), The Politics of Leisure Policy, Basingstoke: Macmillan.  

Houlihan, B. (Ed) (2008) Handbook of Sport and Society, London: Sage.

Hylton, K. and Bramham, P. (eds.) (2008) Sports Development: Policy, Process and Practice, London: Routledge.  

Jarvie, G. (2006) Sport, Culture and Society, London; Routledge. Whannel, G. (2006) Culture, Politics and Sport: Blowing the Whistle Revisited, London: Routledge.

Journals:

Leisure Studies

Managing Leisure

Sport and Society

Electronic sources:

www.sportdevelopment.org.uk/ (accessed 21 November 2008)

www.culture.gov.uk/ (accessed 21 November 2008)

www.sportengland.org/  (accessed 21 November 2008)

www.uksport.gov.uk/ (accessed 21 November 2008)