Abstract
While cricket was a game created in England and used to fulfill British soft power, over the last 30 years a major shift has taken place in the game’s institutions and power hierarchy. This shift reflects a broader shift in both sports and international power politics as non-western nations are becoming more powerful actors in the international system, particularly the international sporting system. To discuss the implications of this shift the paper first examines why this shift took place in the sport of cricket and try to show that it emerged from a range of political, economic, and social forces. Secondly, it discusses how India has changed the model of cricket administration to reflect the ideas of inclusion and expansion thus going against the traditional model for administering and marketing the game. Thirdly, it argues that the shift to non-Western nations brings with it a change in the social values associated with the game. Fourthly, it warns that this shift in power has also brought with it problems of corruption in the game. The trends in cricket are manifested in other sports as well where the rise of China has started changing the global sporting system.
Presenters
Amit GuptaAssociate Professor, International Security Studies, USAF Air War College, Alabama, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Sports Management & Commercialization
KEYWORDS
India, Globalization, Power Shifts, Corruption, International Relations
