The politics of sports policy in Britain: the examples of football hooliganism and drug abuse.
This paper considers the nature of the policy process for sport by examining the development of policy towards football hooliganism and drug abuse by athletes. The paper begins by reviewing briefly a range of different conceptualizations of the policy process, particularly that of a ‘policy community’. Using the concept of a policy community, the paper explores the development of policy towards football hooliganism and drug abuse by athletes. It is argued, in conclusion, that while a mature policy community does not yet exist for sport, there are signs that such a community may be emerging. It is also argued that the failure of those actors and organizations involved in sport actively to seek the development of a policy community has led to a loss of initiative and influence over problem definition and policy formulation.