Sport: a critical sociology Giulianotti, Richard

Table of Contents:

1.Functionalist Theories of Sport: Social Orders, Solidarities, and Systems

2.Weberian and Microsociological Approaches to Sport: Meanings, Identities, and Rationalization

3.Marxist and Neo-Marxist Theories of Sport: Capitalism, Alienation, and Class Conflict

4.Cultural Studies Approaches to Sport: Domination, Resistance, and Transgression

5.`Race' and Ethnicity in Sport: Competing against Racism and Intolerance

6.Gender and Sexuality in Sport: Playing against Patriarchy

7.The Body in Sport: Discipline, Experience, and Risk

8.Sporting Places and Spaces: Fields of Affection, Commerce, and Fantasy

9.Elias on Sport: Figurations, Civilization, and Interdependence

10.Bourdieu on Sport: Domination, Distinction, and the Public Intellectual

11.Postmodern Sport: Fragmentation, Consumption, and Hyperreality

12.Globalization and Sport: Political Economy, Cultural Creativity, and Social Development.

In this new edition of his acclaimed book, Richard Giulianotti provides a critical sociological interpretation of modern sport. As global festivals such as the Olympic Games and football’s World Cup demonstrate, sport’s social, political, economic and cultural significance is becoming ever more apparent across the world.


Ten years after its original publication, the text has been completely revised and updated to cover the most recent literature and to tackle the key contemporary issues of sport and society. Chapter by chapter, Giulianotti offers a cogent examination of widely taught sociological theories and topics that relate to sport, skilfully weaving together theory and examples. These include functionalism, Weberian sociology, Marxism and postmodern sociology, along with ethnicity, gender and globalization. Using an international range of case studies and research regarding a wide variety of sports, the new edition has furthered its commitment to making this important material especially accessible to undergraduate readers.


Sport: A Critical Sociology remains the best sociological introduction to sport for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students on courses such as sport and leisure studies, cultural studies, and modern social theory.

(http://politybooks.com/bookdetail/?isbn=9780745669922)