Figurational sociology and the sociology of sport

some concluding remarks

Eric Dunning

pp. 221-284

in: Eric Dunning, Chris Rojek (eds), Sport and leisure in the civilizing process, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 1992

Abstract

A number of possibilities suggest themselves as far as the format and contents of this concluding chapter are concerned. I could, for example, indicate the areas of criticism of the figurational position put forward in this volume that I agree with and then attempt a point-by-point rebuttal of those with which I disagree. Alternatively — in line with what a number of scholars erroneously believe to be one of hallmarks of the figurational or "process-sociological" approach¹ — I could blithely ignore what others have written and simply discuss some of my own ideas.² However, neither of these possibilities strikes me as a particularly good idea. Let me attempt to spell out why.