In this book the authors draw on their extensive international experience of working with divided communities to develop a methodological and theoretical model for peace-building in sport. Featuring case studies from Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine and South Africa, it is essential reading for scholars of sport development.
Sport is a cultural institution that stands at the interface between political and civil society. In divided communities, sport has been an agent of separation, sectarian hatred and violence, but also a highly effective tool for conflict resolution, reconciliation and peace-building.
In this important study, John Sugden and Alan Tomlinson draw on their extensive international experience of working with divided communities to develop a methodological and theoretical model for peace-building in sport. The book showcases original case studies from three regions of the world in which sport has played a prominent role in social deconstruction and reconstruction: Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine and South Africa. Combining a wealth of primary and secondary data, the authors chart the rise of the contemporary Sport for Development and Peace movement (SDP) and outline an important new practice-based framework for understanding, researching and working to achieve positive social change in the SDP sector.
This is essential reading for any student, researcher or practitioner with an interest in the sociology of sport, sport development, international development, peace studies or conflict resolution.
"Sport and Peace-Building in Divided Societies is a testament to the longevity and far-reaching capacity of Sugden in the SDP movement. With the use of storytelling and first-hand accounts, Sugden and Tomlinson have created an accessible text, which engages with the ongoing arguments and theoretical discussions most prominent within SDP. By choosing to provide solutions alongside their critiques, the authors have created a text on sport for peace that is valuable to practitioners, researchers and academics." - Catherine Houston, University of Toronto, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
