ABSTRACT
This book examines the political significance of sport and its importance for nation-state building and political and economic transition across thirteen post-Soviet and post-socialist countries, primarily located in Eastern Europe.
Adopting a critical case-study approach, building on historical and comparative frameworks, the book uses sport as a symbolic lens through which to examine the transition of Eastern European countries to the Western capitalist system. Covering a wide geographical area, from Poland to the Caucuses and Turkmenistan, it explores key themes such as nationalism, governance, power relations, political ideology, separatism, commercialisation and economic development, and the symbolic value of mega-events.
Sport, Statehood and Transition in Europe is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in sport policy, the politics of sport or political science.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter 1|8 pages
Interpreting sport and transition in post-socialist and post-Soviet Europe
part 1|66 pages
Neoliberal sport in the post-socialist countries of Eastern Europe
chapter 2|16 pages
The transformation of sport in post-communist Hungary
chapter 3|17 pages
The politics of sport in Poland after 1945
part 2|102 pages
Sport transition from the socialist state to the open market
chapter 10|23 pages
Statehood, nationalism and separatism
part 3|98 pages
Post-Soviet presidentialism and sport mega events
