ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that a useful way forward might be to think about the social dimensions of festivals in terms of sustainability. It briefly reflects on developments in the literature on the social dimensions of festivals before reviewing definitions of social sustainability, and discusses how festival research might be advanced in light of broader social sustainability debates. The chapter briefly reviews the literature dealing with the social dimensions of festivals. It noted a growing interest in social questions and identifies a number of developments in the literature. The chapter suggests that a closer interrogation of the concept would be of value in addressing some of the theoretical and conceptual shortcomings in the existing literature and in encouraging critical enquiry in the field. It offers a more systematic means of making more sense of the social dimensions, both negative and positive, that have long been identified in numerous empirical studies.
