The Political Economy of Sport

The Political Economy of Sport provides an understanding of sport in a political-economic context set against the backdrop of increasing globalization. The contributors view globalization as contested terrain in which economic, technological and cultural features are intertwined. The chapters, grouped in three parts, offer a remarkably topical discussion of sport while locating sport within trends and characteristics of advanced capitalism. Considered together, they provide evidence of similar forces affecting, and being affected by the internationalization of sports and sport-related enterprises. Issues addressed include the expansion of neo-liberalist ideology/deregulation, vertical integration of media and sport markets, competition for capital investment at all geographical levels, and brand-name marketing of sport and sport-related goods and services. In addition, the contributors include perspectives of non-elites: schoolchildren, grassroots supporters of sports clubs and urban residents. Book jacket.

John Nauright is in the Department of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Australia.

Kimberly Schimmel is Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education, State University, Ohio.