The paralympic movement from 1944 to 2016 : a processual analysis of institutional creation, maintenance and change

This research focuses on management-related issues of participation in sport for athletes with an impairment. Drawing on the institutional theory, this study is guided by a straightforward research question: how to understand institutional change among the Paralympic Sports over time? Grounded on an extensive multi-step exploratory phase, this work has developed two longitudinal case-studies that examine the role of 1) shifting institutional logic and 2) institutional entrepreneurship during institutional change processes. This study is based on document analysis – i.e. archival records – and follows the Process Tracing method’s guidelines. Embargo was successfully lifted on recent and sensitive documents. Key findings emphasize institutional mechanisms that have constrained, and still prevent, the development of the Paralympic Movement. This research also enriches the institutional theory by providing new insights with regard to the paradox of embedded agency.