A1 Journal article (refereed)
The politics–administration dichotomy in support for national sport guidelines in local government : The views of Finnish municipal top decision-makers on child and youth physical activity guidelines (2023)

Lee, A., Kärkkäinen, S., Lämsä, A.-M., Suomi, K., Vehmas, H., & Villberg, J. (2023). The politics–administration dichotomy in support for national sport guidelines in local government : The views of Finnish municipal top decision-makers on child and youth physical activity guidelines. Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum, 14, 125-150. https://sportstudies.org/2023/10/09/the-politics-administration-dichotomy-in-support-for-national-sport-guidelines-in-local-government-the-views-of-finnish-municipal-top-decision-makers-on-child-and-youth-physical-activity-guid/

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lee, Anna; Kärkkäinen, Salme; Lämsä, Anna-Maija; Suomi, Kimmo; Vehmas, Hanna; Villberg, Jari

Journal or series: Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum

eISSN: 2000-088X

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 09/10/2023

Volume: 14

Pages range: 125-150

Publisher: Idrottsvetenskap Malmö högskola

Publication country: Sweden

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://sportstudies.org/2023/10/09/the-politics-administration-dichotomy-in-support-for-national-sport-guidelines-in-local-government-the-views-of-finnish-municipal-top-decision-makers-on-child-and-youth-physical-activity-guid/

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93824

Abstract

While autonomous municipalities in western societies have become responsible for the implementation of national sport policy, the diversity of local decision-makers’ policy interests presents significant challenges. Building on an institutional approach based on Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy, this problem is addressed by studying local political and administrative top decision-makers’ support of the Sports Act guidelines for child and youth sport in Finland. Utilising large survey data from 736 Finnish local top decision-makers, the analysis revealed attitudinal differences, especially between politicians and administrators, and thus a paradoxical situation in the implementation of these guidelines. This finding supports the view that the current debate on the realisation of sport policy in Finland’s autonomous local government system needs to consider differences in the views of different decision-making groups and their influence on local sport provision.

Keywords: policy on physical training; execution (implementation); physical activity services; children (age groups); young people; local government; local politics; political decision making; decision-makers; attitudes; opinions; institutionalism

Free keywords: top decision-makers; attitudes; decision-making groups; child and youth sport; institutional theory; Weber, Max

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1