Call for Papers | International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA) Virtual World Congress | November 15–19 2021. Call ends August 31, 2021

From November 15 to 19, 2021, the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA) in partnership with the Latin American Association of Sociocultural Studies of Sport (ALESDE) and the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) will hold its World Congress virtually. This congress will provide a forum to develop ideas and will also represent an invitation and a challenge to participants with an aim to create an opportunity for the growth and mutual recognition of our advances and perspectives in the social studies of sports.

Congress Theme

The theme of this congress is driven by several questions relating to the local and global production of knowledge in the sociology of sport, namely:

• • • What impact does our work have on a process of scientific circulation on a world scale?
    • What are the characteristics in our production of knowledge?
    • What can a Latin American country offer?

What are our characteristics in the production of knowledge? The work of Eisenstadt (2012) posits the idea of “multiple modernities” which understands that, while the world is approaching modernity, the dichotomy between traditional and modern societies loses relevance. However, encounters between cultures and projects of modernity give way to these multiple modernities, understanding that the process did not turn out to be a path defined by the European trajectory of modernity.

In the same way that Latin American “modernity” does not turn out to be a spelling of European “modernity”, the production of knowledge isn’t either. Latin America was marked by a developmental period, in which an academic circuit was consolidated in the region and post-graduate schools were created, which facilitated circulation within the region, producing academic autonomy (Beigel, 2013). However, these processes decreased after the waves of dictatorships in the different Latin American countries. Although this could represent a setback, it also positioned our continent with a “critical” experience and sensitivity regarding the creation of knowledge from the social sciences.

Wright Mills (1959) argues about the transformation of sociology and speaks of an increasing specialization and the loss of the “craftsmanship” that the classical social researcher had. In his perspective he mentions them as deformations produced by the tendencies of industrial societies. In these differences he mentions that social researchers in industrial societies have a marked “methodological formalism”, while Latin America has a lack of rigor, but there is a capacity for “essayism”. From this old criticism, removing the negative character that Mills gives, we can see two distinctive features: the narrative offered by Latin America and the formalism that can be provided from other regions.

Returning to the question about the characteristics of the Latin American reality, for our part it is not possible to refer to ourselves as experts on the progress of the sociology of sport outside of our region. In the continent, sociology of sports could be summarized through the quote from Alabarces (2016) “Hemos fundado una sociología del deporte casi sin sociólogos” (We have founded a sports sociology almost without sociologists). This situation, has been an opportunity to develop interdisciplinarity research from anthropologists, historians, philosophers, sociologists, physical education teachers, psychologists and so on.

In relation to the critical observation and questions, what can a Latin American country offer? The theme is an opportunity to discuss our epistemological differences, as well to share our methodological tools from which we create our (grounded) knowledge. There is a low Latin American presence in ISSA, which can be caused by our monetary exchange differences in global economy, making difficult a Latin American participation in spaces outside the region. In this way ALESDE and CLACSO are nourished by knowledge that is generated and circulates through a cohesive but narrow network within the region, but with difficulties for rapid exchange with the rest of the world.

All this knowledge pushes the idea of the title, “Local and Global Challenges for Social Studies Of Sport in the 21st Century“, as a challenge and invitation. Recognizing that countries and regions have travelled different trajectories and have overcome different challenges in the production of knowledge in the social studies of sports, which deserve a space for discussion and sharing in order to cross paths that allow scientific enrichment. Beyond the main theme, the congress will also feature a diverse range of sessions to enable scholars, including postgraduate students, the opportunity to share their latest research.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Authors should submit their abstracts in English for English language sessions, in Spanish for Spanish language session or in Portuguese for Portuguese language sessions.

Please note that no translation services will be offered during the congress.

• • • Authors are required to submit their abstract online (abstracts sent by e-mail will not be accepted). The portal to submit abstracts will close on August 31, 2021.
      
    • Abstracts should not exceed 250 words (approximately 1750 characters including spaces).
    • ISSA policy limits the number of papers an individual author can present: each participant can present one paper as the lead author. His or her name can appear on up to two additional papers as second or additional author, but not as the presenter.
    • Presenting author needs to register for and attend the congress.
    • We encourage all presenters to prepare a power point presentation in order to facilitate comprehension since the ISSA Congress attracts an international audience.
    • Abstract submission is free of charge.
    • Registration fees must be paid by October 1, 2021 at the latest to secure the presentation during the congress and the publication of your name and abstract in the Book of Abstracts.
    • Poster presentations: Please use portrait style (A0 size)

Submission Topics