Sport in Society

From the mid-twentieth century onwards, the Global South has experienced several profound geopolitical shifts and cultural transformations, many of which triggered a series of conflicts and crises. Most recently, these have included the enduring crisis in the Middle East, the escalating tensions in Ethiopia, and the consequential Fall of Kabul. All have not only reshaped the political landscapes of these regions but have also left indelible marks on their cultural fabrics. These pivotal events, distinct in their nature and implications, have collectively forged a new reality for the societies they have touched. This period of unrest and transformation offers a unique opportunity to examine how sport functions as a mirror to societal changes, a platform for political expression, and a catalyst for communal resilience. The world of sports in these societies tells a story far beyond the games themselves; it reflects the people's struggles, hopes, and identities caught in the tides of these tumultuous times.

The intricate interplay between sports and warfare has been a subject of scholarly debate (Bairner 2013; Sipes 1973; Vamplew 2014), tracing back to ancient civilizations where the realms of physical prowess and military might often intertwine. We seek to extend this discourse, focusing particularly on perspectives from the Global South. This call for papers invites academicians, researchers, and historians to contribute their insights into how the intersections of sport and war are perceived, manifested, and transformed within these diverse contexts. We especially encourage researchers from the Global South to contribute to this call by taking intersectional, postcolonial, and/or decolonial approaches.

This call for papers also explores the critical dimension of freedom of speech as it intersects with the realms of sport and warfare, particularly within the Global South context. This theme encourages a deep dive into how freedom of expression is navigated, contested, and manifested within sports during war and peace.

We invite submissions of individual full articles investigating the complex relationship between sport and war from the Global South perspective. Research articles might focus on one or more of the following indicative themes:

• Socioeconomic dynamics and sport
• Sport as a medium for nationalistic expression
• Sports and forced displacement
• Global South perspectives through sports
• Pacifism and resistance in sporting culture
• Sports as channels of communication and protest
• Gender narratives and militarism in sports
• The intersection of military and athletic disciplines
• The interplay between civil and military spheres in sports
• Historical and contemporary sporting rivalries
• The role of sports during times of war
• Freedom of speech and the Middle East crisis
• Militarization of physical education
• Global North’s imperialism via sports

Submission Instruction
Call for Abstract (CfP): Deadline, 30th March 2024
Authors whose abstracts are accepted will be notified by 15 April 2024.

Send the abstracts to Umer Hussain ([email protected]) before 30th March 2024. Abstracts must be clearly written in English and a maximum of 300 words, excluding the title and authors.

The final research article draft should be written with the following elements in the following order: title page; abstract; main text introduction, discussion; conclusion; acknowledgments; declaration of interest statement; references; appendices (as appropriate); table(s) with caption(s) (on individual pages); figures; figure captions (as a list).

The final research article draft should be no more than 10,000 words.

The final research article draft should contain an unstructured abstract of 150 words.

Please refer to the journal’s guidelines when preparing your final manuscript.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article