Fusion Action Systems

This paper introduces the notion of fusion action system, an abstraction of the $p$-local data of a finite group acting on a finite set. Fusion action systems are closely connected with the theory of fusion systems; we detail the relationship of this new definition to the existing literature. We also develop a theory of classifying spaces of fusion action systems, analogous to the relationship between by $p$-local finite groups and fusion systems. This allows us to discuss the covering space theory arising from a group action in a fusion-theoretic context.