ABSTRACT
Postmodernity in the form of postindustrial relations reflects profound change in urban economies. Urban populations have necessarily been greatly affected by the broad structural re-composition of city economies. The postmodern emphasis placed on pleasure, hedonistic experience and consumption has across Europe revolutionised leisure and its defining forms so that shopping, travel, even physical exercise, all fit within postmodern conceptions of commodified leisure lifestyles. Such widening disparities in leisure opportunities remain a growing challenge for postmodern cities and in particular for urban leisure policy makers. Changes associated with postmodernity developed a far more individualised personal philosophy and disengagement from social and political issues. The late twentieth century has seen the rise of more home- and consumption-based consciousness replacing the altruism of post-war reformist welfare collectivism. There has been a diminution of the power of the once all-encompassing city councils. The politics of postmodernity is about distrust, apathy and alienation from conventional political leaders and established political parties.
