Some of sport’s greatest historical moments - Jesse Owens’ Olympic triumph in 1936, or the ‘Miracle on Ice’ – were in fact about politics. The relationship between sport and politics, economics, society and culture is fascinating and complex. Studying sport can offer us a way to examine totalitarian regimes in Germany and Italy, an angle for considering international relations or insight into the construction and maintenance of national identity in newly independent nations. Issues about race, empire, gender and class can all be explored within the context of professional and amateur sport.

This course will focus on a selection of different historical and political realities – and a variety of sports – to assess some of the intersections between sport, politics and society. Taking a global perspective, we will examine case studies from Italy, other European societies, the USA and elsewhere, as well as some sociological approaches to sports culture.

For summer 2022, we will particularly focus on the history of sports boycotts and protests, in order to understand the context of key contemporary debates about sport and politics. How do international sporting bodies respond to events like the war in Ukraine and with what precedents? How and why do individual sportswomen and men take - or refuse to take - political positions?

Students will be encouraged to think critically about sport and the values, traditions and expectations which are linked to sport; to illustrate some of the political and social roles sport has played in the twentieth century; to gain a fuller understanding of the history of amateur and professional sports and their significance. We will both explore the history of sport and use sport as a starting point to investigate other, related topics.

Through the primary focus is always historical, the course will explore contemporary issues relating to international relations, globalization, sociology and mass culture.

By the end of the course students should:

• understand the historical development of organised sport in the Western World;

• be able to reflect on some of the key interactions between sport and politics in the twentieth century;

• be able to critically examine the social role of sport;

• develop a new insight into the sports cultures of their own society;

• develop a new insight into their own situation as fans and consumers of sport.

Attendance at class is mandatory. More than 3 absences will cause your final overall grade to be reduced one level per absence (ie. A- to B+, B+ to B etc) while more than 5 absences will lead to automatic failure. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the start of class will be recorded as absent. Please be punctual.  

It is not possible to arrange make-ups for mid-term or final exams, in accordance with the university's policies. See catalogue for further details. Late work cannot be accepted after the date of the final exam.

Please be sure to check the class moodle for messages and class updates.