Both governmental and non-governmental organizations play an important role in modern diplomacy, and international missions and foreign policy agendas are no longer exclusive domains of career diplomats. The major functions of diplomacy today include representation, cooperation, communication and negotiation, and these different diplomatic modes also diversify channels through which international relationships are managed and maintained. Sport is arguably one of the non-conventional diplomatic tools whose visibility in global politics is continually on the rise. From promoting peace to projecting an image of a nation, sport can perform, albeit symbolically, a range of different diplomatic missions. Sport can also work a useful barometer of geopolitical tensions or harmony. The operational mechanism of international sport governing bodies such as the IOC and the FIFA resembles that of global political forums. These multiple facets of sport diplomacy create a unique academic place, within the field of sport management and policy studies, wherein the connection between sport and diplomacy is critically examined and its theoretical implications are rigorously considered.
In this respect, the special issue of the Journal of Global Sport Management invites papers on the intersection between sport and modern diplomacy. The conceptualization of myriad diplomatic conducts and gestures in sport is the key aim of this special issue. In addition to an insightful review of notable cases and incidents, this special issue particularly seeks papers that present sound theoretical underpinnings or/and potentially makes a useful conceptual contribution to sport diplomacy scholarship. Additionally, research papers that delve into the instrumental values of sport as a foreign policy tool and critically investigate the demonstration of diplomatic tensions or a global fraternity through sport are welcome. The guest editors also consider various transnational civic organizations, exploiting sport as a means to convey their cause to international audiences.
Potential topics could include (but not limited to):
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- The influence of geopolitical factors on sport and/or vice versa
- The Global North-South divide and Sport
- Hosting and bidding for sport events as national and foreign diplomacy exercises
- The role of specific regions in global sport politics
- A critical review of sport for international development and peace
- International sport governing bodies and their links to political bodies
- The global sport system and its policies
- High-profile athletes and sport celebrities as cultural ambassadors and political activists
- Sport and transnational political activism and protest
- Sport and international exchange programs
- Sport media and international diplomacy
- Sport and international relations theories
