Individualism and Sport

• In Event: 473 - Section on Political Economy of the World-System Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 07. States, Semiperipheries, and Sports

Abstract

An assessment of the trajectory of individualism and sport as cultural themes in the West, focusing on the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century. Drawing from historical and sociological materials we develop a model positing increases in individualism and sport throughout the period, with individualism serving as an engine for increases in sport. Both descriptive and time-series analysis are consistent with guiding propositions of the model.

Authors

• Robert Fiala, University of New Mexico

• Andrew Breidenbach, University of New Mexico