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Drawing on a small‐scale ethnographic study in one UK police force, the paper offers insights into how different individuals and groups legitimate particular definitions of policing performance through invoking contrasting constructions of community policing. In doing so, the paper focuses on the discursive analysis of change defined in two interrelated ways: firstly with regard to the intentions and implementation of a new discursive template; and, secondly, as ongoing situated human agency in context. Findings from the study show how 'Dixon of Dock Green'– an archaic stereotype of the slow‐witted but endearing 'PC Plod' character – is used as a discursive resource to both acknowledge and resist the legitimacy of community work in the definition of 'real policing'. Despite attempts over the last two decades to underpin policing priorities, as well as roles and cultures, with a collaborative, community focused approach, the study suggests a marginal impact on policing processes, performance and work identities.

This article presents theoretical and empirical analysis of the micro-politics of resistance. We theorize resistance at the level of meanings and subjectivities, drawing attention to the multidirectional and generative effects in identity construction. We address two shortcomings present in much of the theorizing of resistance, namely, the conceptualizing of resistance as a set of actions and behaviours, and the narrow conception of resistance as a reaction to repressive power. Focusing on the UK public services, we draw from texts generated within interviews with public service professionals in the police, social services and secondary education to explore the meanings individuals ascribe to the discourse of New Public Management (NPM) and their positioning within these meanings. The analysis contributes to the study of organizations in three respects. First, it offers a more detailed and varied understanding of resistance that can account for different motivations and ways in which individuals struggle to transform meanings. Second, drawing on specific cases, it illustrates the process of the micro-politics of resistance. Third, it presents an empirically grounded understanding of the character and conduct of NPM that can accommodate greater complexity and nuance.

In developing our understandings of resistance, both organization theorists and feminist theorists have struggled with issues of the subject and object of resistance. In particular, attention has been focussed on an adequate theorizing of resistance that can offer a detailed and varied understanding of the different motivations of individuals and groups to transform dominant norms. This article draws on the tensions and debates within feminist theory, to argue that feminist theory problematizes but ultimately enriches and revitalizes conceptualizations of resistance within organization studies. The article focuses on three tensions within resistance studies, namely the subject of resistance, what 'counts' as resistance, and when resistance counts. The article illustrates how feminist theory has worked through these tensions in maintaining a practical politics of change and transformation whilst avoiding the problems of universalism, essentialism and privilege. Feminism, in attending to these tensions, offers a contingent politics of constant vigilance within power relations.

Presents a gendered analysis of the reconstitution of professional subjectivities, as part of the New Public Management (NPM) discourse in the UK police service. Draws on texts generated from interviews with police uniform and civilian professional/managers in two constabularies. Explores the ways in which individuals have received and responded to the NPM discourse. Analysis of these texts suggests the promotion of specific gendered meanings of commitment, based on high visibility and unquestioning loyalty. Drawing on a Foucauldain feminist framework, illustrates how individuals exploit the weaknesses, contradictions and spaces revealed in the NPM discourse. This takes place through thought and action, stimulated by tension, discomfort, paradox and difference and may result in accomodation, adaptation or denial of the subject positions offered.

This article considers the impact of service quality initiatives on the role of professional academic librarians.1 It is argued that these initiatives – by asserting the dominant role of 'sovereign' consumers – offer a powerful legitimating device which is currently being used to support radical changes in professional work. One possible outcome of this is a weakening of professional autonomy and power to unilaterally determine levels and standards of service. The case of academic librarians is adopted to illustrate these points. Firstly, two ideal types of library and professional organisation, developed from a review of the librarian literature, are compared. These are the 'traditional' and the 'service quality-led' models. Following this, a case study of an academic library which has recently adopted various quality improvement strategies is discussed. The results of this investigation suggest that not only have service quality initiatives provided a legitimation for radical change, but they have also generated a number of unintended consequences and hidden costs for the users of library services. Finally, some of the wider problems associated with service quality initiatives in the public sector are discussed.

To explore how celebrity memorabilia collectors use their memorabilia collections to engage with a media persona(e), we draw from two distinct concepts. The first concept is Brown's definition of celebrity worship. This serves as the lens to explore how audiences engage in this process of worship. Specific attention is given to three key anchor points within this definition: commitment, love and devotion. The second concept is Maltby's three levels of celebrity worship. This provides a framework to explain the ways in which the memorabilia collectors use their collections to conform or disconform to various levels of celebrity worship. A total of 21 in-depth interviews were conducted with collectors of celebrity memorabilia. Findings support a need for a total reconceptualization of celebrity worship levels and an introduction of a newly conceptualized level to adequately explain celebrity memorabilia collectors. Furthermore, findings also suggest a conceptual unity between the two concepts. Overall, our study provides a more diverse way of understanding celebrity memorabilia collectors.