The thermometer of sporting nationalism

Abstract

Abstract The connection between sport and nationalism is unquestionable. However, it is a matter of debate whether and to what extent this should be the case, given the potential danger involved. Cases of chauvinist exacerbation and even violence are well known. From a normative philosophical approach, we start with the hypothesis of a thermometer of sports nationalism that allows us to evaluate when these expressions are tolerable or not. As a proposal, we distinguish between assertive, aggressive and violent nationalism. Having examined the pros and cons of sporting nationalism in terms of foreign policy, it seems to us that there are not sufficient reasons to establish a causal link or to claim that it contributes to violence. It follows that there do not seem to us to be any moral or political reasons to eliminate international competitions or to even substantially change their current structure.