Forward Russia! Sports mega-events as a venue for building national identity

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitalii Aleksandrovich Gorokhov
Keyword(s):  
Spillover Effect ◽  
National Identities ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Mega Events ◽  
Winter Olympics ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Nationalist Sentiment ◽  
Host Nation

This paper contributes to the discussion of links between sports, nationalism, and globalization by focusing on the political aspects of the preparation of Russian national teams for sports mega-events staged in Russia. By analyzing the cases of the XXVII Summer Universiade in Kazan, the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, and the XXI FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in 12 Russian cities, the paper provides a comparative study of the benefits that mega-events provide for the host nation in terms of building national identities. To involve the sports component in the study of the nation-building processes, the paper applies the concept of the “spillover effect” of sporting nationalism which presumes that nationalist sentiment or ideology configured and promoted through sports affects non-sporting political processes, actors, and institutions. The paper argues that the “spillover effect” of sporting nationalism allows for the converting of excellence in sports mega-events – the centerpiece of global sports – into political excellence and displays the strengths of the nation to both the global and domestic public. Therefore, showing excellence as the host nation is the main objective that Russian political actors pursue in both their rhetoric and course of action.

scholarly journals Challenges in Developing Urban Marketing Strategies: Evidence From Ekaterinburg

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1137-1150
Author(s):  
D. M. Kochetkov ◽  
◽  
D.B. Vuković ◽  
E.A. Kondyurina ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Place Marketing ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Fifa World Cup ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Mega Events ◽  
Winter Olympics ◽  
System Solution ◽  
Marketing Positioning

2018 FIFA World Cup became the first championship held in Russia and Eastern Europe. However, at that time, Russia already had experience in hosting sports mega-events such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, and before that the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Hosting the championship in 11 cities at once sets the 2018 FIFA World Cup apart from all these events. It gave impetus to the socio-economic development of all cities (and regions) where the matches were held, including Ekaterinburg. On the other hand, the sports mega-event provides unique opportunities for the global marketing positioning of the city. The present study examines the challenges of developing a city marketing strategy using the case of Ekaterinburg. Theoretical foundations of place marketing were employed for the analysis. Based on the critically explored concepts of place marketing and the competitiveness of the territory, the author’s 4C + 1S model was constructed. The current state of the urban environment was evaluated using a SWOT analysis conducted in a group of students. The research also analysed cities’ experience in conducting recent sports mega-events in the world and managing their facilities and infrastructure after these events. In conclusion, we formulated the proposals for Ekaterinburg’s positioning, including the improvement of the transport system, solution to environmental problems, increase in the effectiveness of the local government, and maintenance of public consensus. As a basis for specialisation, it is suggested to consider either the industry of meetings (MICE) or industrial tourism with complementary ‘natural’ and ‘historical’ directions. The proposed 4C + 1S model can be used as a methodological framework for the creation of urban marketing strategies. Additionally, the article makes a theoretical contribution to the development of place marketing. The results can be applied in further academic urban studies.

The Aesthetics of Control

Urban Studies ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (15) ◽  
pp. 3241-3257 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Murakami Wood ◽  
Kiyoshi Abe
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Japanese Version ◽  
Sociological Analysis ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Fifa World Cup ◽  
Mega Events ◽  
Winter Olympics ◽  
Control Society ◽  
World Expo

This paper examines the changing ‘style’ of urban order in Japan through the example of mega events, drawing on the architectural critique of Taro Igarashi and the historical sociological analysis of Masachi Ohsawa. It argues that construction for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was typical of a ‘concrete aesthetic’ that reflected a Japanese version of ‘control society’, at once modern and post-modern. Ironically, this period has since been re-imagined through ‘Showa nostalgia’ as shown in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and the 2005 Aichi Expo. This nostalgia has been a resource for a globalising form of urban order, seen in more recent mega events like the FIFA World Cup 2002, the 2005 World Expo in Aichi and the 2007 World Athletics Championship in Osaka. This order combines a new aesthetics of visibility through technocratic surveillance with authoritarian governance that seeks to render invisible the marginal, particularly homeless people and foreign migrant workers.

Information Component of Disintegration Processes in Spain and Great Britain: the Comparative Aspects

2019 ◽  
pp. 142-154
Author(s):  
Vasyl Karpo ◽  
Nataliia Nechaieva-Yuriichuk
Keyword(s):  
World War I ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
World Politics ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Political Propaganda ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
The World ◽  
Ancient Times

From ancient times till nowadays information plays a key role in the political processes. The beginning of XXI century demonstrated the transformation of global security from military to information, social etc. aspects. The widening of pandemic demonstrated the weaknesses of contemporary authoritarian states and the power of human-oriented states. During the World War I the theoretical and practical interest toward political manipulation and political propaganda grew definitely. After 1918 the situation developed very fast and political propaganda became the part of political influence. XX century entered into the political history as the millennium of propaganda. The collapse of the USSR and socialist system brought power to new political actors. The global architecture of the world has changed. Former Soviet republic got independence and tried to separate from Russia. And Ukraine was between them. The Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine was the start point for a number of processes in world politics. But the most important was the fact that the role and the place of information as the challenge to world security was reevaluated. The further annexation of Crimea, the attempt to legitimize it by the comparing with the referendums in Scotland and Catalonia demonstrated the willingness of Russian Federation to keep its domination in the world. The main difference between the referendums in Scotland and in Catalonia was the way of Russian interference. In 2014 (Scotland) tried to delegitimised the results of Scottish referendum because they were unacceptable for it. But in 2017 we witness the huge interference of Russian powers in Spain internal affairs, first of all in spreading the independence moods in Catalonia. The main conclusion is that the world has to learn some lessons from Scottish and Catalonia cases and to be ready to new challenges in world politics in a format of information threats.

Global Sport

2018 ◽  
pp. 596-612
Author(s):  
Richard Giulianotti
Keyword(s):  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Future Research ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Mega Events ◽  
Sport For Development ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Sociocultural Issues ◽  
The Olympic Games

World sport often appears as one of the most powerful illustrations of globalization in action. This chapter provides a critical analysis of global sport. Four major areas of research and debate on global sport are examined: political–economic issues, centering particularly on the commercial growth of sport and inequalities between different regions; global sport mega-events such as the Olympic Games or World Cup finals in football; the emergence and institutionalization of the global sport for development and peace; and sociocultural issues, notably the importance of global sport to diverse and shifting forms of identity and belonging. Concluding recommendations are provided on areas for future research into global sport.

‘Depoliticisation’ in the Reform of the Panamanian Security Apparatus

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
CORINNE CAUMARTIN
Keyword(s):  
Transition To Democracy ◽  
The Political ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Police Reform ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Political Role ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Us

This article examines the unusual public security reform process that took place in Panama in the wake of the US military invasion of December 1989. The changes to the Panamanian security forces that ensued were in equal part a ‘demilitarisation’ process, a police reform and an (imposed) transition to democracy where the political domination of the Panamanian security forces came to an abrupt end. Deploying the concepts of demilitarisation, professionalisation and depoliticisation, the article evaluates the political role and activities of police forces and the nature of their relationship with the main Panamanian political actors through to the present Torrijos administration. It then assesses the implications for wider political processes, suggesting that explanations for the success or failure of reform are unlikely to be found in the examination of the design and implementation of the reform itself, but that broader political processes must be analysed in order to understand the dynamic that underpins it.

Law, Politics, and Democracy in the Twenty-first Century

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-362
Author(s):  
J. Mitchell Pickerill
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Political Process ◽  
First Century ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Court Decisions ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Law And Politics ◽  
Law And Courts ◽  
The Us

Political scientists have long rejected the old law and politics dichotomy and recognize instead that law and court decisions are inherently political in numerous ways. Still, courts are not the same as executive and legislative institutions, and law is not simply a synonym for politics or policy. Law and courts are distinct and yet connected to political processes and policy outcomes in complex and nuanced ways. The question for law and courts scholars, then, is how and why do political actors (with seemingly increasing frequency) turn to law and the judiciary to influence public policy, and what are the impacts of infusing law and courts into the US political process? The three recent books under review help to answer these questions.

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