Sport policy convergence: a framework for analysis

Abstract

The growth in the comparative analysis of sport management processes and policy has led to an increased interest in the concept of convergence. However, the concept is too often treated as unproblematic in definition, measurement and operationalisation. It is argued in this paper that a more effective framework for examining claims of convergence is one that analyses the concept in terms of seven dimensions which can be explored through a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. It is also argued that a deeper understanding of the process of convergence can be gained by operationalising the concept in the context of a selected range of meso-level theories of the policy process or of specific aspects of the process. The proposed analytic framework provides not only a definition of convergence but also the basis for a more nuanced investigation of hypotheses of convergence.

Keywords:

• sport policy
• convergence
• policy change
• comparative policy analysis

Notes

1. This distinction was prompted by Edelman's work on symbolic politics (Edelman, 1971, 1977).

2. Scientisation refers to the elevation of professional judgement and practitioner intuition to the level of robust scientific evidence often through the adoption of the terminology and forms of presentation found in the natural sciences.