Sociology of Sport

Abstract

Description Sport is popularly considered as a sphere separate from 'important' aspects of social and political dynamics. Sociological and anthropological studies have proven the opposite: both active and passive involvements in competitive sports take part in shaping and undermining collective identities, as well as in political mobilization around these identities. This course takes a global and comparative perspective to follow the processes through which national, racial, ethnic, civic, religious, local and gender identities are constructed by sport. Special emphasis is given to: The significance of sport in deeply divided societies; sports as a political battleground for the production of meanings in ethno-national conflicts and colonial contexts; the implication of sport globalization on various collective identities. The theoretical themes are illustrated through various particular case studies around the globe,