An analysis of the way in which mass media in 12 European countries turn sport into politics, concentrating on the way the media contribute to the ongoing reconstitution of national identity. While the greater part of the volume focuses in detail on the press, there is also substantial commentary on television practice in several chapters, and two chapters address themselves exclusively to television. The volume is also concerned throughout with the political economy of the media world. Distributed by St. Martin's Press. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

While globalisation has undoubtedly occurred in many social fields, in sport the importance of ‘the nation’ has remained. This book examines the continuing but contested relevance of national identities in sport within the context of globalising forces. Including case studies from around the world, it considers the significance of sport in divided societies, former global empires and aspirational nations within federal states. Each chapter looks at sport not only as a reflection of national rivalries but also as a changing cultural tradition that facilitates the reimagining of borders, boundaries and identities. The book questions how these national, state and global identifications are invoked through sporting structures and practices, both in the past and the present. Truly international in perspective, it features case studies from across Europe, the UK, the USA and China and touches on the topics of race, religion, terrorism, separatism, nationalism and militarism. Sport and National Identities: Globalisation and Conflict is fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in the sociology of sport or the relationship between sport, politics, geography and history. Chapter 8 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Explores the relationship between sport and national identities within the context of globalization in the modern era.

Fascination with what makes the Germans tick has produced a vast range of texts that explore German postwar politics, culture, and society. Yet within this considerable body of work, there is a paucity of academic analysis that acknowledges the role of media discourse in the representation and construction of German identity. This book makes an important contribution to the study of German national identity by offering a detailed and large-scale academic analysis of how German media discourse between 1998 and 2005 represents German national identity. It brings together a variety of case studies: European integration, citizenship and immigration, sports and consumption. It makes the case for the role of popular culture in the discursive formation of national identity and demonstrates that the nation is constructed against political and non-political subjects. By looking at a variety of topic contexts, this book identifies a master narrative of the German nation. It tells the story of a nation that has its roots firmly in the memory of National Socialism and constructs ethnocentric nationalism as taboo. Yet at the same time it cannot escape the past as it harbors racist images of "self" and "other." This is an important book for collections in European studies and media studies, as well as scholars engaged in studying the impact of media on culture. This book demonstrates that reports of the death of the nation-state are without any doubt exaggerated. The particular complex of discourses analysed here was and is only present in Germany. It could not be found in Germany's German-speaking neighbours such as Austria or Switzerland, or indeed anywhere else. While the influence of globalisation is undeniable, the nation-state and its media remain a key location for the negotiation of national identity and much more. This wide-ranging and engagingly written book offers us an exceptional insight into that process." - Professor Hugh O'Donnell, Glasgow Caledonian University

Practiced and watched by billions, sport is a global phenomenon. Sport history is a burgeoning sub-field that explores sport in all forms to help answer fundamental questions that scholars examine. This volume provides a reference for sport scholars and an accessible introduction to those who are new to the sub-field.

Given sport’s centrality in English society, what role does it play in symbolising contemporary English national identity? This comprehensive study explores the complex set of relationships between sport and what it means to be English in the twenty-first century. The bond between sport and nationalism has long been recognised, but with increasingly vociferous separatist nationalisms threatening the dismantling of the United Kingdom, a closer analysis is timely. Part one addresses key debates regarding English national identity within the specific sporting contexts of association football, cricket, tennis, cycling and rugby. Part two discusses the complex relationship between religion, sport and English national identity as well as the attitudes and experiences of traditionally marginalized groups, including women, minority ethnic groups and disabled people. Part three considers the perspectives of the other UK nations on the link between sport and English national identity. Sport and English National Identity in a 'Disunited Kingdom' is fascinating reading for all those with an interest in the sociology, politics and history of sport, and the study of nations, nationalism and national identity.

This volume brings together research contributions on the interface between media, identities and the public sphere in contemporary Europe. It contains information spanning theoretical insights and the elaboration of original case studies. Particularly welcome is the effort to bring together discussion on media industries and cultural identification and the experiences of East and West."-Paul Statham, Professor of Sociology, University of Bristol Mikl=s Snk÷sd is Associate Professor at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong. Karol Jakubowicz is Senior Adviser to the Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council of Poland.