TRIBES, TERRITORIES AND NETWORKS IN THE TOURISM ACADEMY

Abstract

This article critically analyses the territories and tribes of tourism studies, an aim which initially divides into two objectives. The first of these is an epistemological enquiry which focuses on the nature and the structure of the field. The second objective is a sociological one which focuses on the culture and practices of academics in the field. However whilst this traditional distinction can bring some clarity to an initial understanding of tourism studies, additional insights into the complexity and dynamics of the field are obtained by adding a further layer of analysis. Here actor-network theory is deployed to link relevant objects and reveal academic networks. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.