Thesis-1999-Matthews.pdf (55.95 MB)
Sport, policy and Europeanisation: process and interest mediation in European Union decision making
thesis
posted on 2010-11-19, 14:29 authored by Nicola MatthewsThe thesis seeks to analyse the implications of the deepening and widening of the
European Union for sport and leisure-related policy developments. Firstly, the work
seeks to establish an appropriate conceptual framework through which to review how
the process of Europeanisation is influencing sport and leisure policies. The term
Europeanisation refers to the changing nature of relations between regional, national
and supranational tiers of governance. Secondly, the thesis reviews the literature on
the progression of EU level sports and leisure policy interventions since 1957. The
range of rationales in operation, and the maturation of those rationales over the last
forty years, is considered. The capacity for European level intervention has grown
significantly through the development of EU socio-political and economic integration
policies, the most significant being the four freedoms (the free movement of goods,
services, capital and persons) and the associated legislation. The empirical work
subsequently reviews the implications the Europeanisation process for three areas of
decision-making: sports broadcasting rights, the use of European Structural Funds
and the debate on a EU competence for sport.
Drawing on both figurational sociology and policy network analysis, the research
identifies the key stakeholders involved in the policy process and seeks to illustrate
the nature of the policy-making processes. The thesis progresses the argument that the
development of economic, social and political inter-dependencies, along transnational
rather than national lines, are inevitably leading to questions over the role of the
nation state and the institutions of the European Union. Accordingly, the research
identifies and evaluates the positions held by the key actors, on central issues, within
each of the three areas of policy and reflects on the distribution and management of
key resources.
The conclusion addresses the issue of whether the strategic alliances formed during
the policy process are indicative of the development of a European level sports policy
community or whether other forms of policy network operate at the supranational
level of governance. With reference to the three areas of policy analysed, the final
chapter outlines the ways in which policy networks are changing, or resisting change,
in the light of developments at the European level. The evidence suggests that the
sub-sectoral nature of the policy studies conducted, militates against the formation of
a highly integrated, independent policy community. Consequently, it is appropriate to
refer to more disaggregated, issue-specific networks. Nevertheless, the potential for a
growing formalisation of the sports policy agenda at the European level is such that
policy communities may develop and coalesce at some point in the future.
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Publisher
© Nicola MatthewsPublication date
1999Notes
Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.EThOS Persistent ID
uk.bl.ethos.324498Language
- en