Postmodernism and power in urban policy: Implications for sport and cultural policy in the city

This article reviews the implications for sport and leisure professionals of changes in the ways in which power is conceptualised in postmodern theory broadly, arid more specifically in the related concerns of urban regime theory. It argues that urban regime theory shares certain epistemological and moral premises with postmodern approaches, which lead to a partial account of the role of power and the identification of community interests in urban policy. The article goes on to suggest that Giddens' account of the relationship between individuals' conscious wants and collective interests provides an appropriate legitimation of professional advice in such contexts.