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Dissertation Proposal Defense - Soolmaz Abooali
Monday, January 23, 2017
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Metropolitan Building, room 5000
Sport for Society: A Theory-Practice Exploration into how Sport is used to Address Conflict
Committee
Dr. Mara Schoeny (Chair)
Dr. Kevin Avruch
Dr. Craig Esherick
Abstract
The use of sport as a vehicle to address conflict traces back to the Olympic Truce and has since been leveraged at multiple levels of society. However, history also reveals several incidences where sport has incited violence. Despite this fact, the notion that sport itself is good has prevailed and served as a justification for the increase of sport being used in conflict-related programs across the globe; an increase that has given rise to the field of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP). While the SDP field has taken off in practice, it has fallen behind in theoretical development, so much so that a limited handful of conflict resolution theories are consistently used to ground programs. Given this, an academic study that explores the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of SDP programs is critical, particularly since sport itself has proven to be a double-edged sword. Heeding to scholars’ call for rigorous analytical research, this study will use a grounded theory approach to explore the theories of change underpinning SDP programs which aim to address conflict. Through interview and observation sessions, the study seeks to understand the logic with which SDP actors who design and implement program curricula believe sport will create a positive change, asking the questions: why sport as a vehicle for positive change and how does sport facilitate this change? How can this knowledge inform the construction of SDP curricula? And are SDP actors reflective in their work? Results from this study will help conflict resolvers to better understand components of practice, theory, and existing tensions. Moreover, results will serve as knowledge from which future conflict resolution and SDP work can be conducted.