Journal Articles by Jonathan Grix
A central argument for public funding of elite sport is the claim that success at the Olympic Gam... more A central argument for public funding of elite sport is the claim that success at the Olympic Games or world championships leads to increasing international prestige for cities and states. While this assumption seems plausible in general, it clearly lacks specification. Given this, we first discuss here several theoretical approaches in order to unpack which forms of prestige can be sought by states in which kind of sports and events. Second, we summarize the (rather limited) state of empirical research on the topic. Third, secondary data, offering possible indicators for sport-induced changes in international prestige, are presented and discussed. The resulting picture reveals that the formula 'the more success, the more prestige' is too simple. The paper concludes by suggesting methodological approaches towards a more systematic analysis of states' use of sport to acquire international prestige.
The spiralling costs of hosting sports mega-events (SMEs) are usually
justified by the ‘legacies’... more The spiralling costs of hosting sports mega-events (SMEs) are usually
justified by the ‘legacies’ that they produce. Therefore, this article begins
by problematising the notion of SME ‘legacies’ and the benefits they are
intended to bring to hosts. The article serves as a general introduction to
the papers that follow in this Special Issue. Common to all papers is a
concern with the multifaceted nature of ‘legacy’, its meaning to a variety
of stakeholders involved in such events and how this impacts policy. The
belief in the causal relationship between hosting major events and the
realisation of specific legacies – increased sport participation in London’s
case, highlighted in this paper – underpinned the United Kingdom’s
bidding for, and subsequent hosting of, the Olympics. Thus, this paper
serves as a discussion of some of the key concepts in, and assumptions
about, the use of SMEs to produce a legacy for the hosting state.
1. Of 'politics' and 'sport'
2. The study of sport politics
3. Sport, the state and national iden... more 1. Of 'politics' and 'sport'
2. The study of sport politics
3. Sport, the state and national identity
4. The political economy of sport
5. Sport and the media
6. A politician's dream: sport and social capital
7. The politics of performance sport: why do states invest in elite sport?
8. Domestic and international governance of sport
9. Doping matters
10. Public diplomacy, soft power and sport
11. The future of sport politics
According to Joseph Nye, who coined the concept of 'soft power', Putin 'failed to capitalize on t... more According to Joseph Nye, who coined the concept of 'soft power', Putin 'failed to capitalize on the soft-power boost afforded to Russia by hosting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi' . With political volatility in the region throughout the year, Russia's ensuing actions -culminating in the secession of Crimea -and its position over the armed conflict in Ukraine, certainly appear to bear this out. The Sochi Olympics were predominantly framed by the Western press as a Russian soft power quest and an attempt to obtain belated recognition as a great power. However, Sochi should be understood as a part of a wider package of "spatial governance" undertaken by Putin's regime. We argue that the Sochi mega-event is part of a wider soft power strategy -one which is not the same as, for example, the UK's or Brazil's use of such events. For Russia, international status means possessing both soft and hard power resources and being able to use them.
Joseph Nye’s concept of ‘Soft Power’ has become an increasingly used term to help explain why sta... more Joseph Nye’s concept of ‘Soft Power’ has become an increasingly used term to help explain why states – including so-called ‘emerging states’ – are paying greater attention towards acquiring various forms of cultural and political attraction. However, within mainstream International Relations, Political Science, and Sport Studies literature, a continuous debate remains as to what actually constitutes soft power, how national leaders go about acquiring it, and how forms of attraction convert into power outcomes in both the short- and long-term. This paper endeavours to overcome these issues by offering an ‘Ideal-Type’ model which details states’ soft power strategies, the mechanisms they use, and the tangible future outcomes they gain. The paper is separated into five sections. First the concept of soft power is introduced and its contribution, application and limitations are critically evaluated. Second, crucial background information on the various national authorities engaged with to arrive at the ideal type is offered, along with a discussion of the research methods used. Third, the paper advances an ideal-type model of a state’s soft power strategy, explicitly detailing, in the process, the considerations and rationale behind the design. Fourth, empirical data gathered by the authors around Germany’s hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Qatar’s acquisition of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is used as ‘test cases’ to show the utility of the ideal-type. The paper concludes by reflecting on the contribution this model makes to current literature and how it could be used in future research.
Central to this article is the use of sports mega-events as part of a state’s ‘soft power’ strate... more Central to this article is the use of sports mega-events as part of a state’s ‘soft power’ strategy. The article offers two things. First, a critique of the ‘soft power’ concept and a clearer understanding of what it refers to by drawing on the political use of sports mega-events by states; second, the article seeks to understand how and why sports mega-events are attractive to states with different political systems and at different stages of economic development. To this end a case study of an advanced capitalist state (London Olympics, 2012) and a so-called ‘emerging’ state (FIFA World Cup, 2014; Rio Olympics, 2016) will be undertaken in order to shed light on the role of sports events as part of soft power strategies across different categories of states.
Key Words: Soft power; sports mega-events; political use of sport; Brazil; UK
The broader setting for this research is the increase in willingness of governments of all politi... more The broader setting for this research is the increase in willingness of governments of all political hues to stage sports mega-events. The paper starts from the observation that many states have and do instrumentalise sport to promote their country's image or 'brand' and attempt to gain prestige. This paper argues that Germany employed a deliberate leveraging strategy to improve their nation's (poor) image abroad. How did Germany do this? This study focuses on three aspects that were central to Germany's leveraging tactics: a series of long-term, carefully co-ordinated campaigns; the focus on a 'fan-centred' approach to the organisation of the event and the creation of a 'feelgood factor' around the tournament. More broadly, the article seeks to contribute to the nascent literature on leveraging sports mega-events by employing Chalip's 2004 model of leveraging legacies as an organising principle and focusing on strategies to improve a nation's image used by Germany. 1 There are a number of terms similar and relating to 'international prestige'. The broadest concept is that of a nation's 'public diplomacy' (i.e. relations with external states, both formal and informal). States tend to seek to project a positive 'image' of themselves internationally; for the purpose of this paper 'international prestige' ought to be understood as both the reputation of a country and its image abroadit is this that states seek to enhance with the hope of improving trade, incoming tourism and influence in international affairs.
International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Jan 1, 2010
This article offers the first empirical account of the role of County Sport Partnerships (CSPs) i... more This article offers the first empirical account of the role of County Sport Partnerships (CSPs) in delivering grassroots sport policy in the UK. Current leading academic approaches to policy delivery in the UK suggest that we have witnessed a move from 'big' government to governance by and through networks and partnerships. Such a process is said to have led to a dispersal of power among many actors and diminished the ability of the state to control policy. Our empirical study of CSPs -including 10 in-depth interviews with key actors -suggests otherwise: grassroots sport policy delivery does take place via 'partnerships', but such arrangements are not to be confused with 'new governance'. On the contrary, government policy delivery has never been so centrally managed, monitored and controlled.
Politics, Jan 1, 2002
The aim of this article is twofold: first, to present an accessible way of introducing students t... more The aim of this article is twofold: first, to present an accessible way of introducing students to the key generic terms of social science research. There is an obvious need for clarifying the generic tools and terminology of the social sciences across the disciplines, as academics argue past each other, using identical terms but attaching different meanings to them. Secondly, this article presents the interrelationship between the core concepts of social science (ontology, epistemology, methodology, methods and sources). This ‘directional’ and logical relationship needs to be understood, if students – and academics – are to engage in constructive dialogue and criticism of each others’ work.
Sport and politics have long been linked, but the Olympic Games represent the most political spor... more Sport and politics have long been linked, but the Olympic Games represent the most political sports event of all. The following article focuses on two of the most important aspects of the Olympics (and sports ‘mega-events’ in general) that students of politics and international relations could make a major contribution towards: the use of the Olympics by states to showcase the host nation and the hoped-for ‘legacies’ that arise from them. Both aspects are, of course, interlinked: the ‘legacies’ are often put forward as the key rationale for the bidding for, and hosting of, the Olympics.
This article adds to the growing body of knowledge in sport pedagogy and focuses specifically upo... more This article adds to the growing body of knowledge in sport pedagogy and focuses specifically upon the intersection of gender and disability. Its purpose is twofold, to create a typology for examining good practice in sport pedagogy that is reflective and inclusive and raises awareness of the diverse needs of all participants in physical activity ‘regardless’ of gender and ability for all children. We acknowledge that access to physical activity, education and sport are complex and multifaceted, however, the main purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of ‘diversity’ by focusing specifically upon the role of gender and ability. Through an examination of gender and disability policies in official European Union (EU) policy documents and commercial examples of policy-in-practice we propose a typology for diversity and diversity management. A close look at EU level is instructive because national policies of the member countries vary a lot with respect to diversity issues but should be in accordance in the main areas. Such a reading enables the building of a typology of recommendations for how such policy can be rendered in sport pedagogy practice. We suggest six significant, but related principles that include (1) mainstreaming; (2) teaching and coaching sensitive to difference; (3) empowerment; (4) inclusion; (5) adaptation; and (6) inner differentiation. This holistic typology seeks to ‘mainstream’ issues of gender and disability policy by providing a set of principles that can be applied to a range of teaching and coaching settings.
Coalition formation in the Federal Republic of Germany has, following unification in 1990, become... more Coalition formation in the Federal Republic of Germany has, following unification in 1990, become a more complex process. This is particularly true in the eastern states, where the existence of a problematic partner (the post-communist Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS)) further complicates coalition options. As a result of its eastern heritage and its successful representation of eastern German interests, the PDS is likely to be an important actor in the medium/long-term future. This article argues that if the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is going to form governing majorities in the eastern states, it must, therefore, come to some sort of practical accommodation with the PDS.
This article uses data from Sport England's Active People Survey (APS) to explore trends and demo... more This article uses data from Sport England's Active People Survey (APS) to explore trends and demographic influences on participation in sporting and physical activities. On the basis of the analysis undertaken, this article considers the extent to which the APS data can be useful both to scholars of sport studies and to inform sport policymakers. Multivariate models are employed and a range of indicators of participation are utilized as dependent variables. These include participation in sport and exercise in general as well as participation in specific activities namely walking, cycling, swimming and athletics. The article concludes that analysis of the APS data can shed light on interesting trends and relationships that could assist an understanding of sport participation and inform policymakers.
British Politics, Jan 1, 2010
... Olympic sport around this time appeared to live up to George Orwell's well-known dictum ... more ... Olympic sport around this time appeared to live up to George Orwell's well-known dictum of simply being 'war minus the shooting' (Orwell, 1945), with ... of a victory: 'Quality' can be taken to be the extent to which victory produces the feelgood factor and national pride (as these ...
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Journal Articles by Jonathan Grix
justified by the ‘legacies’ that they produce. Therefore, this article begins
by problematising the notion of SME ‘legacies’ and the benefits they are
intended to bring to hosts. The article serves as a general introduction to
the papers that follow in this Special Issue. Common to all papers is a
concern with the multifaceted nature of ‘legacy’, its meaning to a variety
of stakeholders involved in such events and how this impacts policy. The
belief in the causal relationship between hosting major events and the
realisation of specific legacies – increased sport participation in London’s
case, highlighted in this paper – underpinned the United Kingdom’s
bidding for, and subsequent hosting of, the Olympics. Thus, this paper
serves as a discussion of some of the key concepts in, and assumptions
about, the use of SMEs to produce a legacy for the hosting state.
2. The study of sport politics
3. Sport, the state and national identity
4. The political economy of sport
5. Sport and the media
6. A politician's dream: sport and social capital
7. The politics of performance sport: why do states invest in elite sport?
8. Domestic and international governance of sport
9. Doping matters
10. Public diplomacy, soft power and sport
11. The future of sport politics
Key Words: Soft power; sports mega-events; political use of sport; Brazil; UK
justified by the ‘legacies’ that they produce. Therefore, this article begins
by problematising the notion of SME ‘legacies’ and the benefits they are
intended to bring to hosts. The article serves as a general introduction to
the papers that follow in this Special Issue. Common to all papers is a
concern with the multifaceted nature of ‘legacy’, its meaning to a variety
of stakeholders involved in such events and how this impacts policy. The
belief in the causal relationship between hosting major events and the
realisation of specific legacies – increased sport participation in London’s
case, highlighted in this paper – underpinned the United Kingdom’s
bidding for, and subsequent hosting of, the Olympics. Thus, this paper
serves as a discussion of some of the key concepts in, and assumptions
about, the use of SMEs to produce a legacy for the hosting state.
2. The study of sport politics
3. Sport, the state and national identity
4. The political economy of sport
5. Sport and the media
6. A politician's dream: sport and social capital
7. The politics of performance sport: why do states invest in elite sport?
8. Domestic and international governance of sport
9. Doping matters
10. Public diplomacy, soft power and sport
11. The future of sport politics
Key Words: Soft power; sports mega-events; political use of sport; Brazil; UK
consider Brazil’s hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the context of
‘soft power’, and question whether the Olympics can deliver better results