Sports, Race and Politics

Catalog description

Beyond spectacular touchdowns and 120 mph aces on the tennis court, sport remains a vital institution for analyzing the ideological/theoretical frameworks of nationalism, diplomacy, economic development, corruption, gender and race. From the historic implementation of Title IX policy to the role of FIFA's World Cup in shaping national development plans, sport should be understood beyond masculine bravado, violence and the joy and agony of competition, but also as a serious vehicle for conceptualizing and analyzing the triumphs and limitations of our society and its complicated history. In what ways does sports reify concepts of race and gender? How is it utilized as a tool of challenging domestic inequalities and/or improving international relations? What is the relationship between sports and ethics? This course examines sports within the Americas, Western Europe and an African context during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will read key texts in the field of sport studies that illuminate the significance of sport in shaping culture and politics in our global society.