This book analyses the increasing use of sport in European and Western welfare states as a tool of social policy and its promotion as a solution to social problems.
Midnight Football is a sports-based intervention targeting social inclusion and crime prevention in young people aged 12–25 in Sweden. This book takes a close look at its organization, pedagogy and potential outcomes. Drawing on cutting-edge research into Midnight Football in Sweden, and exploring other community sport programmes including Midnight Basketball in the United States, this book shines new light on broader social transformations regarding urban segregation and social exclusion, social policy and the governing of welfare and social policy.
This book also offers new perspectives on how sport and the lives of young people intersect with and shape broader shifts in welfare and social policy in Western states, shifts that are manifested in increased inequality, social polarization and profound changes in urban geographies.
This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the relationships between sport and wider society, or in sport development, sport policy, social policy, public policy or youth and social work.
Author(s): David Ekholm, Magnus Dahlstedt
Series: Routledge Critical Perspectives on Equality and Social Justice in Sport and Leisure
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 232
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
References
Chapter 1: Introduction
Background and context
Instrumentalization of sport policy
A genealogy of sport as a technology of social work
Sport as an instrument of social policy
Outline of the book
Sport and social policy context
Research context
Instrumental interests
Critical interests
Outlining a problematizing approach
Analytical framework
A genealogy of power
Conceptualizations of power and governing rationality
Analysing discourse and rationality
References
Chapter 2: Interventions
Introduction
The rationality of sports-based interventions
The case(s) of examination
Six cases of sports-based interventions
Midnight Basketball
Positive Futures
Community Sport
Vencer
DesÉquilibres
Drive-in Sport
Synthesizing investigation of the cases
Institutionalization
Organizational cooperation
Inclusion rationality
Selective outreach
Social reformation
Coach relations
Policy production
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 3: Midnight Football
Introduction
Presenting the case and methodological reflections
Midnight Football: an overview
The participant young people: targets of intervention
The institutionalization of Midnight Football
The activities in practice
Arriving at the arena
Starting the activities
Playing the game
The style of play
Late night and closing time
Methodology
Midnight Football as a case
Empirical material
Research ethics
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 4: Urban Periphery
Introduction
Space and social segregation
Space as discursive formation
Forming the urban periphery
Centring the domain around the movements and sport arenas
Material and symbolic differentiation and limitation
Problematizing the residents and forms of associations
Constructing the discourses and domains of risk and danger
Resisting and countering the discourse of risk
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 5: Civil Society
Introduction
Civil society in context
Civil society as governable domain
The construction of civil society
Productive discursive differentiations
Governing between autonomy and control
Governing at a distance
Technologies of community
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 6: Neo-Philanthropy
Introduction
Philanthropy in the history of the present
Rationalities of neo-philanthropy
Technologies of goodwill
The motives of goodwill
The position of goodwill
Pragmatist philanthropy is not religious charity
The political potential to make a difference
The political objectives of goodwill
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 7: Social Control
Introduction
Social control in context
Discipline and control
The control of subjects and movement
Young people in the open spaces and assessment of risk
Controlling risk and the rationality of prevention
The dynamic relations of control
Coordination of control
Control within and beyond the intervention
Direct and indirect control
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 8: Integration
Introduction
Different forms of integration
Conceptualizing integration
Integration as discourse and technology of governing
The faith in social encounters and relations
Political idealizations of (bridging) meetings
Bonding and multicultural bridging
Pastoral meetings
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 9: Modelling
Introduction
Social relations and socio-pedagogy
Pastoral relations of community
Technologies of role-modelling
Sport as a venue for role models
Relations of community
Legitimacy, authenticity and character
The legitimacy of conversion
Modelling as technology
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 10: Discipline
Introduction
Institutionalizations of reform
Governing risk by means of discipline
Models of discipline
Spatial and temporal confinement of risk
Technologies of diversion
A disciplinary assemblage
Forming, embodying and modelling the rules of football
Normalizing sanctions
The objectives of discipline
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 11: Empowerment
Introduction
The power of self-reflection and development
Governing by means of empowerment
Mobilizing and directing powers of freedom
Moving with and within the community
Establishing non-authoritarian relations
Technologies of dialogue
The art of choosing
The objectives of deliberation and salvation
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 12: Desire
Introduction
Sport participation among young people
Governing (by) desires
Desiring participation in football
Football is fun and a social gathering point
Football development
Dreams of football
The instrumentality of diversion
The instrumentality of social reformation
Reflections on the instrumentality of football
Concluding reflections
References
Chapter 13: Conclusion
Introduction
Re-assessing the purpose and aim
Synthesizing the main findings
Synthesis and analytical discussion
The young people problematized: at and of risk
Guiding young people in their movements
Segregation and pluralism
De-socialization
Social reformation
Communitization
Community as productive force
Needs or rights
Concluding reflections
The production of social policy
Insights provided
The production of scientific knowledge
References
Index
