Sport and Secessionism

Sport and Secessionism explores how sporting cultures reflect, inform, and sometimes frustrate secessionist movements around the world, investigating key themes such as nationalism, nation-building, state-region antagonisms, independence movements, identity and ethnic politics, sovereignty, and autonomy processes. It includes fourteen cases from diverse parts of the world, offering a unique perspective on an important geopolitical issue.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Sports and Secessionism delves into the intricate interplay between sporting cultures and global secessionist movements, exploring how these two realms intersect and influence each other. Through a comprehensive examination of a diverse range of cases, the book uncovers key themes such as nationalism, nation-building, state-region antagonisms, independence movements, identity and ethnic politics, sovereignty, and autonomy processes. By examining these themes through the lens of sport, Sports and Secessionism offers a unique perspective on an important geopolitical issue.

Sports are uniquely positioned to shed light on secessionist politics due to their pervasive presence in society and their ability to absorb, reflect, and produce political projections. The book presents analyses of a wide range of geographical, cultural, and political contexts in which sports are deployed to pursue regional independence, greater sovereignty, and autonomy. It explores the dual processes of sub-national identity construction and state sovereignty deconstruction that occur in these contexts.

The book includes fourteen cases from diverse parts of the world, including Ireland, Taiwan, Turkey, Catalonia, Biafra, Canada, and the UK. These cases provide a rich tapestry of examples that illustrate the ways in which sports can be used as tools for political mobilization and expression. Each case offers a unique perspective on the challenges and complexities of secessionist movements, and the ways in which sports can contribute to or hinder these processes.

Sports and Secessionism is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in sport and politics, the sociology of sport, political science, political geography, nationalism studies, or international history. It provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the ways in which sporting cultures reflect, inform, and sometimes frustrate secessionist movements around the world. By exploring these themes in depth, the book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of power, identity, and nationalism in contemporary society.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367566807