HIST 109B: A Global History of Sport: Politics, Economy, Race and CultureInstructor: Avinash Singh Prerequisites: None Course Description: This course uses a history of sport to examine global culture, politics, race, and economy. It explores how sport acts as a stage for social, national, and ideological conflicts by looking at it through the lenses of empire, gender, class, ethnicity, media, and commercialization. </br></br> While physical training and games have existed for centuries, modern sport emerged in the late nineteenth century as a codified, less dangerous form of physical activity. This development coincided with racial assumptions and the rise of colonialism, leading some scholars to view it as part of the "civilizing process." </br></br> Over the last fifty years, competitive sport has become increasingly powerful both culturally and economically. Events like the Olympics and the World Cup are not only global spectacles and commercial successes, but also expressions of national pride and, at times, international conflict. Similarly, local sporting events, though smaller in scale, have a global audience, connecting and dividing people in innovative ways. </br></br> This course will trace how many of its topics developed alongside European colonialism and conquest, acknowledging that imperialism was not a one-sided process. While ruling nations used sport to assert their dominance, colonized people and postcolonial citizens subverted these efforts by embracing and adapting these very contests. During the Cold War, sport became further politicized, with international competitions serving as a stage for superpower rivalry. The International Olympic Committee continues to envision a socio-political role for the games—an ideological and economic internationalism for a globalized audience. </br></br> Issues of gender and ethnicity are central to how sport is linked not only to national identities but also to race, religion, and society. This course investigates questions of belonging, including experiences of racialized and transgender athletes, representation of LGBTQ sportspeople and people of color, and gender equality and sexual misconduct, particularly the significant pay gap between men and women in sporting events and youth training. Using a historical lens focused on empire, race, gender, and internationalism, this course introduces students to the complexities of something they may encounter daily but have not considered in these ways. Session: Session I Day: T, W, Th Time: 11:10am - 1:40pm Credit Hours: 4 Credits Course Format: On-Campus Course for Summer 2025 Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: DEIS-US, DJW, NW, OC, SS Enrollment Limit: Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course Course Tuition: $3,700 Course Fees: None Open to High School Students: Yes |
