Important handbook that takes a broad approach to its subject without losing analytical depth

Derrick Charway¹ & Umair Asif^2
1 Norwegian School of Sport Sciences; ² University of Quebec

Since the turn of the millennium, the impetus for sport in international development has not waned, despite its existential paradox for social change. Specifically, sport, as a cultural phenomenon serving a social purpose, often gravitates towards a neoliberal capitalist space, fostering individualistic cultures, hegemonic tendencies, colonial echoes and deficit-based approaches to sustainable development, thus leaving the responsibility for implementation and actual development largely in the hands of NGOs and the private sector. This remains the case regardless of whether the focus is on developing sport itself (i.e., sport development) for public benefit, or on using sport as a tool for broader social change (i.e., sport-for-development [SFD] or sport for development and peace [SDP]).  A significant critique, particularly from academics, concerns the need for rigorous scrutiny of the developmental claims associated with sport. For this review, we will primarily use the term “SFD”; however, this will shift to “SDP” in instances where the book chapters include or specifically address issues related to peace and conflict resolution.

Apropos of the above preamble, the Handbook of Sport and International Development, edited by Nico Schulenkorf, Jon Welty Peachey, Ramón Spaaij, and Holly Collison-Randall, is both timely and relevant. The book presents a diverse array of perspectives on critical topics, drawing on the expertise of scholars from various disciplines across the globe, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. Notably, and in agreement with the editors, the book “reflects on established knowledge in sport and international development while also [introducing innovative perspectives] on concepts, methodologies, collaborations, and knowledge mobilisation strategies” (see page 1 of the book). In this context, the 35-chapter volume commences with an introductory chapter that emphasises its focus on “key insights and critical reflections” concerning underrepresented voices, workforce dynamics, structures/networks and systems, positive peace and social change, innovation and new approaches, social trends and theoretical development, research methodologies, and activism within the SDP field. This is followed by the book’s four main parts comprising Part 1 – Critical Perspectives, Part 2 – International Sport-for-Development (SFD) and Its Key Themes, Part 3 – Research in Action, and Part 4 ­ Critical Issues.

While sport undoubtedly has a role to play, critical studies are essential for shaping the field of sport and international development, which has yet to establish a significant foothold within academic studies or a broader scholarly discourse.

Delving into the four parts of the book, Part 1 (with seven chapters), highlights critical perspectives from academic disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, political science (focusing on policy analysis), management, indigenous studies, innovation studies and social work. This section underscores the forces, power dynamics, and asymmetrical relationships that shape the SFD field. It emphasises addressing local needs, decolonising the SFD field, considering regional perspectives on SDP policy, reflecting on the philosophical positionality of indigenous knowledge and being mindful of institutional and organisational logics, among other key issues. It is worth noting that, with the exception of one chapter that adopts an empirical approach, the remaining chapters primarily offer theoretical and conceptual insights into SFD. Since Part 1 establishes the conceptual foundation for the subsequent parts of the book, it would have been ideal to include perspectives on peace and conflict studies (peacebuilding, conflict resolution, reconciliation, and violent extremism), which are addressed as separate chapters in remaining parts of the book.

Part 2 focuses on key themes common to the SFD field. The seven chapters in this part explore themes such as underrepresented voices (disability, girls, women, and SFD pedagogies/curricula informed by local participants), health, livelihoods, and peace and reconciliation. While these themes are prevalent within the field, the chapter on livelihoods, a relatively under-explored area within SFD, is crucial as it delves into the fundamental issue of sustaining SFD initiatives and organisations. This chapter underscores the employment and poverty challenges faced by young people, particularly those from marginalised communities, who often serve as volunteers or beneficiaries of SFD programmes.

Part 3, titled “Research in action,” is the most empirical part of the book. Comprising eight chapters, it evinces diverse research methodologies from around the world, including context-specific research, cross-continental (interdisciplinary) collaborative research and participatory research. Part 3 also features a unique “drawing and comic” approach to SFD, as well as innovative visual analysis of SFD data, a less common approach in the field.

The final part of the Handbook consists of 13 chapters and addresses contemporary critical issues in SDP. It explores emerging topics in the SFD field, such as leadership in a post-pandemic world, entrepreneurship, design thinking and sport ecology. Notably, peace and conflict themes, often overlooked in sport and development research, are given significant focus in this section, with five of the 13 chapters dedicated to these areas. Part 4 presents readers and researchers with case studies and innovative methodologies for engaging with the SDP field. An emerging topic that this part could have addressed is the potential social impact of sports betting on youth development. This includes examining both the risks (such as addiction, financial difficulties, school dropout, and social isolation) and the potential benefits (such as increased engagement with sports and the creation of economic opportunities). This omission highlights the need for further research to broaden the scope of the SFD field.

Remarkably, the book covers a wide range of topics that characterise the diversity of studying sport and development. While these topics may initially appear disparate, they are, in fact, complementary when considered (in the context of the book) as a whole. Although offering critical perspectives on sport and international development is the book’s central focus, the editors successfully included chapters that also provide theoretical insights, methodological innovations and pragmatic recommendations to the challenges faced in the SDP field. However, as we have noted in the book, the varied use of the terms SFD and SDP across different chapters may pose challenges for readers and students new to the sport and development field. Providing comprehensive definitions of these terms in the introductory chapter would enhance clarity and facilitate understanding, particularly for newcomers to the field.

Overall, the critical approach adopted by the book is vital, given the oft-cited, yet uncritical, narratives about the “inherent purity and goodness of sport” (Coakley, 2015, p. 403) promoted by prominent institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, governments, and numerous international and local NGOs. While sport undoubtedly has a role to play, critical studies are essential for shaping the field of sport and international development, which has yet to establish a significant foothold within academic studies or a broader scholarly discourse.

In conclusion, the book serves as a reminder to researchers and practitioners in sport and development studies to adopt a critically constructive approach to research/work rather than being swayed by the frequently cited transformative power of sport. This approach can help prevent the exploitation of sport, including practices such as sportswashing, and ensure that sport is genuinely utilised to address societal, economic, and environmental needs.

Copyright © Derrick Charway & Umair Asif 2025

Reference

Coakley, J. (2015). Assessing the sociology of sport: On cultural sensibilities and the great sport myth. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 50(4-5), 402-406. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690214538864