ABSTRACT
This chapter achieves a number of goals. It introduces the theoretical underpinnings of this book, synthesising two distinct bodies of work. First, it highlights the work of Ulrich Beck’s Risk Society, which provides the theoretical baseline for the book. This is followed by making the connections between this theory and sustainable development, where it is shown that a symbiotic relationship exists. Surfing is then injected into this framework, highlighting the synergies between the theoretical frame and the empirical investigation presented in this book. The theoretical frame is then broadened to include a transitions perspective on sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on the multilevel perspective. Here it is argued that this additional analytical framework provides an essential bridge between the broader abstractions of the risk society and the subsequent empirical investigation. The chapter introduces the notion of governance within the context of this book and discusses some of the broad changes within the surfing industry that have contributed towards a sustainability transition.
