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Open Access Utilizing Field Theory to Examine Mega-event-led Development

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This article is Open Access under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND licence.

Scholars and practitioners have long been analyzing and evaluating the way events, particularly mega-events, serve as a mechanism of change. Powerful descriptions are typically brought to life via event impact and legacy case studies: yet, I argue such work can remain atheoretical—or—conceptually disorganized. I draw on Bourdieu's field theory and the management study of Field Configuring Events to develop a new analytical framework: the "Cognitive and Relational Mapping of Field Configuring Events"—offering a set of interrelated concepts to strengthen analysis and conceptual consistency between studies, while providing latitude to overlay different disciplinary perspectives. I detail methodological and conceptual advantages afforded alongside six ways the framework could be applied and extended across various cases and contexts.

Keywords: COGNITIVE AND RELATIONAL MAPPING OF FIELD CONFIGURING EVENTS; EVENT-LED FIELD DEVELOPMENT; FIELD CONFIGURING EVENTS; FIELD THEORY; MEGA-EVENTS

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK, Email: [email protected]

Publication date: December 3, 2021

This article was made available online on January 11, 2021 as a Fast Track article with title: "Utilising Field Theory to Examine Mega-Event Led Development".

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  • Event Management, an International Journal, intends to meet the research and analytic needs of a rapidly growing profession focused on events. This field has developed in size and impact globally to become a major business with numerous dedicated facilities, and a large-scale generator of tourism. The field encompasses meetings, conventions, festivals, expositions, sport and other special events. Event management is also of considerable importance to government agencies and not-for-profit organizations in a pursuit of a variety of goals, including fund-raising, the fostering of causes, and community development.
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