Sport and Social Exclusion in Global Society

Social exclusion is one of the most pressing challenges in post-industrial societies, encompassing economic, social, cultural and political dimensions. This important new book critically examines the relationship between sport and social exclusion, from global and cross-cultural perspectives.

The book analyses sport and social exclusion by focusing on three key questions:

How does social exclusion affect participation in sport? How is social exclusion (re)produced, experienced, resisted, and managed in sport? How is sport used to combat social exclusion and promote social inclusion in other life domains? To answer these questions, the authors discuss and critically reflect on existing knowledge and in-depth case studies from Europe, Australasia, Africa and Latin America.

The book illuminates the relationship between sport and social exclusion in Global North and Global South contexts, addressing key issues in contemporary social science such as social inequality, worklessness, gender, disability, forced migration, homelessness and mental health. Sport and Social Exclusion in Global Society is important reading for all students, researchers and policy-makers with an interest in sport sociology, sport development, sport management, or the relationship between sport and wider society.

Ramón Spaaij is Associate Professor in the College of Sport and Exercise Science and Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL) at Victoria University, Australia. He is also Special Chair of Sociology of Sport at the University of Amsterdam and Visiting Professor at the Utrecht University School of Governance, The Netherlands. His main research interests are the sociology of sport and sociology of terrorism.

Jonathan Magee is Senior Lecturer in the School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors at the University of Central Lancashire. His research and teaching interests include sport and social inclusion, sport and community, and sport development and coaching. Magee has co-edited several books, including Women, Football and Europe: Histories, Equity and Experiences and The Bountiful Game: Football Identities and Finance.

Ruth Jeanes is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, Australia. Ruth has spent the previous decade researching equity and inclusion within a sport and active leisure context, initially focusing on gender issues and in more recent years exploring experiences of young people with disabilities. She has explored issues of social exclusion within both Global North and South contexts.