Classify, divide and conquer: Shaping physical activity discourse through national public policy

Type Journal Article - New Zealand Sociology
Title Classify, divide and conquer: Shaping physical activity discourse through national public policy
Author(s)
Volume 22
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2007
Page numbers 84-103
URL https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joe_Piggin/publication/259332605_Classify_Divide_and_Conquer_Sh​aping_Physical_Activity_Discourse_Through_National_Public_Policy/links/0c96052b07fe5984ec000000.pdf
Abstract
This paper aims to draw attention to the role of public policy  in
shaping power relations discursively, and highlight how these 
power relations can be debilitating for particular groups in a public policy setting. These  aims shall be  accomplished by analysing
the construction and implementation of a New Zealand physical 
activity policy which compares physical activity rates around
the world. Utilising Foucauldian theorising, we show how  classifying and dividing practices construct a view of New Zealand
and the world which automatically and problematically favours particular nationalistic conceptions. The  article  concludes that 
Sparc’s use  of the term “international standards” is inherently
problematic when comparing rates of physical  activity, and such
a policy serves to dominate by default  over other nations.

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