Ways sport can be used for social change Flashcards
Define ‘social movement’ (2)
- “Collective challenges, based on common purposes and social solidarities”
- “A set of opinions and beliefs in a population which represent preferences for changing some elements of social structure”
- Loose and changing coalitions of groups and individuals”
- Often arise in reaction to a threat or critical event and/or an opportunity (elections are viewed as a time where politicians try to lobby votes and you can get what you want)
What is meant by ‘lifestyle politics’? What is an example of lifestyle politics? (2)
- Textbook: Life politics is a politics not of life changes but of lifestyle. It concerns disputes and struggles about how we should live in a world where what used to be fixed either by nature or tradition is now subject to human decisions
- Where choices about food, transport, sport etc. reflect value system, political views
The ‘personal can be political’ – often based on consumer choices… - Do not necessarily need to be part of activist group - might choose to ride a bike instead of driving or eating certain foods better for climate
- Based more on our lifestyle and how we choose to live
- These lifestyle decisions are political to the extent that our day-to-day choices can often be linked to key social issues and global processes—which is not difficult to do in a consumer society where the purchases we make and activities we choose can often be traced back to trans-national corporations (who produce our shoes) and/or global-environmental issues (how they produce our shoes)
Example: Consumers may choose not to buy their athletic apparel wear from the brand Nike because there are anti-sweatshop movements that people support that target Nike and other apparel and clothing producers. Nike is known to have poor labour conditions and wages in lower income countries so this is consumers’ ways through lifestyle politics to directly confront and protest against transnational corporations while speaking to their person and consumer values
What does it mean to say that (sport) subculture members may be “pre-political”? (3)
- Looking for a language to express themselves
- Socially connected people (not isolated people) most likely to be (eventual) participants in political groups
- Working out what politic means
- Those who are part of these groups are precursors to political activists but not all the time
- “The personalization of politics [through shared musical preference, alternative sport participation, the food one eats] is one way in which [many young people] confront the distance between themselves and a mainstream political world in which they effectively have no say”
When considering more ‘intentional’ attempts to create social change (or ‘intentional politics’), what are the features of movements that are thought to be most likely to be successful? (5)
Movements successful when:
- Resources can be mobilized (recruit people, media support/expertise, contacts with influential people/celebrities - around elections where people have others endorse their movements, funds for travel - just need money)
- Political opportunities available and utilized (e.g., political climate favourable to an issue; election taking place; other movements taking place)
around election times; when other movement groups have already ‘opened the gates’ for political changes that may benefit the group; when the government was elected on a mandate that is aligned with some of the values of the social movement group) - Driven by “social movement entrepreneurs” (Harry Edwards)
Create collective action frames to inspire
Eg. identify injustice, explain injustice, propose solutions and recruit!
Dr. Harry Edwards and his primary athletes, Smith and Lee Evans, were heavily influenced by the black freedom movement. The goal was to reveal how the US used black athletes to perpetuate a false narrative about race relations both domestically and internationally. By showing a gesture whilst getting on stage and receiving their medals they really aimed to identify injustice and explain it and it was able to be successful because high level athletes were part of these movements as they aimed to create social change.
Video (Journey of the African-American Athlete clip featuring Dr. Harry Edwards): On the fifth day of the Olympics two athletes made a statement as they raised their glove fists in protest on the victory stand. Everyone was in shock in the crowds and the black glove signified the power of the Black community in America. They actively wanted to explain the injustice and they made a difference as their medals were included in the final account and were not instead taken away. Black Olympians took nearly half the medals home for the USA.
Elite Kenyan runners played an important role as ‘social movement entrepreneurs’ in Kenya, following post-election inter-ethnic violence in 2007-2008. What is a ‘social movement entrepreneur’? Why were elite Kenyan runners thought to be well-positioned to be social movement entrepreneurs’? (4)
Class notes
Influential, Credible, Motivated, Active
Running a source of national pride
Through international competitions, athletes seen to work-together on behalf of ‘one Kenya’
Are from the local communities, personal stake
Athletes mobilizing resources
Had connections in local communities – mobilize media (publicity), local government (for races), banks (sponsors)
Textbook
Leaders/visionaries of social movements - initiates movements, organizations and tactics
The success of these events hinged on the idea that providing safe and positive spaces for friendly inter-tribal interactions is an important first step towards a more peaceful and united Kenya
The event received coverage in international publications like Runner’s World, which lauded race organizers for their successful contributions to the reconciliation effort
While the mere presence of celebrity runners at the events was thought to be important for attracting participants and spectators - Those athletes who were actively involved in organizing the event (i.e., as movement entrepreneurs) had an immense capacity to mobilize resources because of their prominence and high status in communities affected by the conflict
For example, some athletes (especially those who grew up in the Rift Valley and/or trained there) had well-developed and positive relationships with local media, who would publicize the run-for-peace events. These ‘runner-entrepreneurs’ were also able to attract volunteers for the events through their highly developed sets of contacts. They were also in a better position to influence those who have the power to fast-track the sort of community-based work that is needed for events like this to happen, such as road closures for races. It is also noteworthy that many of these athletes have high-profile friendships with teammates from rival tribes, giving them credibility in their attempts to organize reconciliation activities
Outline the range of ways that ‘success’ can be defined for different social movements (4)
- Inspire awareness/debate around a set of issues
- Provide opportunities for subsequent activism
Inspire others to participate in movement - ‘Acceptance’ of a group as a legitimate representative of issue
- Impact public policy (Title IX)
- Change culture (environmental movement and ‘green’ sport events)
