The Politics of Parkour: Transnationalism, Youth and Social Policy

This is a project funded by the British Academy to develop an international collaborative research project exploring public policy responses to an emergent urban-based lifestyle sport: parkour. The media depict parkour participants as reckless risk-seeking hedonists; yet existing academic research has described it as a transgressive cultural practice that challenges forms of embodiment and the uses and meanings of public space. Policymakers and educationalists are recognising parkour's potential to engage young people, providing managed risk-taking that furthers self-discipline, creativity and healthy lifestyles. Research partners have been identified in the UK, France and Canada to share information and research on the development of parkour in these countries and to develop further research into aspects of the culture, governance and perceived social benefits of this rapidly growing activity.

The project will initially be a collaboration between Dr Belinda Wheaton (University of Brighton), Dr Mike Atkinson (University of Toronto) and Dr Florian Lebreton (Université Européenne de Bretagne - Rennes 2).