Idræt og velfærdspolitik. En teoretisk diskussion af autonomibegrebet.

En teoretisk diskussion af autonomibegrebet. This article discusses the boundaries between sports governance and government policy in the Danish welfare state and sheds new light on the concept of autonomy. The formerly liberal Danish government’s public health programme (2002-2010) specifies a wish for social involvement and cooperation between the public and the voluntary sector. Governmental conception is that health political subjects and social issues are a challenge which the community solidarity-based non-governmental sports association should take the responsibility for, e.g. by offering comprehensive options for people with no tradition for physical activity. This paper will in a sociological way, with the use of an Eliasian process analytical perspective and a governmentality perspective (Elias 1970, Dean 2006), discuss the enabling and constraining possibilities of the political relations. Themes like the autonomy of sports organisations/ associations will be included in order to discuss the possible significance in the future of a partnership between the public and the voluntary sector. Should sport contribute some specific welfare ideological values or should it simply unfold a more general health promotion pedagogic effort? In line with Eliasian thinking it will be highligh ted that sport always has been part of, and always could be seen as a (body) political scenario. There is a changing relation between autonomy versus heteronomy of stakeholders in sports governance, but what is the new thing in the unfolded political involvement? By doing an analytical empirical investigation, the paper focuses upon the fact that the concept of shared responsibility and interdependence between sport and society has a long historical tradition – in Denmark.