Guest Editors
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- Michael Mirer, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- Mahdi Latififrad, Tarbiat Modares University
- Alex C. Gang, Washington State University
Throughout history, sport has served as a powerful arena for political conflict and action, evident from ancient arenas like the Roman Colosseum to modern-day Olympic and World Cup venues representing political resource allocation. Today, nation-states and athletes leverage sporting platforms to advocate for their agendas and address issues of sociocultural significance. These may include defining national identity and pushing for gender equality and sexual rights, among many others. The deep-rooted relationship between sport and politics is further exemplified through Olympic boycotts, athlete protests against racial injustice, and the intertwining of political conflicts on the sport stage. This enduring connection underscores sport’s role as a tool both for nation-states to exert influence and for social stakeholders to drive change, with communication serving as the crucial conduit for attributing meaning to these dynamic interactions.
The intersection of sport, politics, and communication serves as a compelling arena for academic inquiry and societal reflection. The International Journal of Sport Communication (IJSC) invites researchers, scholars, and professionals to contribute their original research and insights to a special issue that explores the multifaceted relationships between sport, politics, and communication.
Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:
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- The role and influence of political issues in sport communication (e.g., gender equality or sexual rights)
- Media representation of sport in different political systems
- Media representation of transnational political conflicts reflected in sport events (e.g., Russia–Ukraine war or boycotts of the Olympic Games)
- Media representation of sport stakeholders (e.g., athletes) engaging in political activism
- Relationships between sport and politics within the media landscape
- Use of sport media by political actors (e.g., political campaigns)
- Media discourse at the intersection of sport and politics
- The role and influence of social media in changing political discourse in sport
- The role of sport in shaping political discourse and ideologies
- Social media and its influence on sport-related political movements
- Interpersonal and interorganizational communication in sport fan activism and issue-based campaigns
- Sport communication as a platform for civic engagement
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This special issue encourages submissions from a variety of methodological approaches and frameworks. We welcome both empirical studies that analyze data and scholarly commentaries related to the call. We also encourage submissions such as case studies, student research, and industry interviews.
We wish to attract scholars from diverse fields and backgrounds. Our overall aim is to position sport communication and politics scholarship and to help advance future work.
Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2025
Publication Issue:Volume 18, Issue 3—September 2025
Submissions can be in any of the following sections of the journal: scholarly commentaries, student (with advisor) research articles, full research articles, and case studies.
Please reach out to Drs. Michael Mirer, Mahdi Latififrad, and Alex C. Gang—the guest editors of this special issue—at mirer@uwm.edu, mahdilatififard@gmail.com,and alex.gang@wsu.edu with any questions regarding the special issue. To submit a manuscript, however, please go through the regular submission steps found at the IJSC website (please see link below). In the cover letter to the IJSC editor (Paul M. Pedersen, Ph.D., Indiana University), simply note that the submission is for the Politics, Sport, and Communication: A Global Review special issue.
Submission Guidelines: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsc/ijsc- overview.xml?tab_body=author-guidelines
IJSC: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsc/ijsc-overview.xml
