An investigation into the role of place attachment within extreme sport tourism

Extreme sport participation is a growing phenomenon, both in terms of active and passive consumption. Nevertheless this growth is not mirrored in the academic literature where a clear dearth in research into extreme sport tourism consumption is evident. The conceptualisation of sport tourism is of a unique interaction of three components, namely: activity, people and place, although some argue that the role of place is unclear. Place, within a tourism context, is concerned with the destination within which the tourist activity takes place and is linked to attachment and destination loyalty. As the role of place within sport tourism is ambiguous, it is similarly unclear as to what constitutes attachment within sport tourism consumption. This study in responding to calls for research within the context of extreme sports seeks to identify the factors which influence attachment within an extreme sport tourism context. The study is based on the 2014 Isle of Man TT motorcycle race and contributes to the wider understanding of the components of attachment. From this study we propose the development of a theoretical model for researchers who wish to better understand the role of place within an extreme sport tourism context

The planned independence referendum in Eastern Ukraine is unconstitutional and anti-democratic

Separatists in Eastern Ukraine are planning to stage an independence referendum in Ukraine this weekend, despite criticism from the international community. With comparisons to international comparisons held in a number of other states, Matt Qvortrup considers the democratic credentials of the vote. He argues that holding a referendum now represents the majority attempting to impose its views on the minority, and that a vote on Eastern Ukraine’s future should only take place once there has been a negotiated settlement among all parties in the region

“This is not Madama Butterfl y”: Hotel Pro Forma’s triple transformation of Puccini’s Madama Butterfl y

Hotel Pro Forma’s staging of Madama Butterfly at La Monnaie, Brussels in February 2017

“Oops I did it again!” Cameron and the Britney Spears model of constitutional reform

Constitutional change in the UK has progressed haphazardly in recent years, and with the benefit of hindsight many of the changes might be considered imprudent or ill-thought through. Matt Qvortrup argues that “Oops, I did it again”, the 2000 hit by pop princess Britney Spears could be a leitmotif in constitutional reforms undertaken by successive governments since the 1970, and possibly even before

Referendums, democracy and separatism

There have been referendums on separatism for longer than there has been democracy. Allowing areas to vote on independence or on whether to belong to another state or territory is a practice that goes back as far as the 14th century, though it is only in the 20th century that it really took off. While many claim a right to self-determination’, there is no formal legal right to hold referendums on secession, unless there are constitutional provisions for this, a specific agreement between the parties, or if the country is a former colony. Of the referendums on independence that have been held, very few have yielded yes’ votes in developed democratic societies