On ReserveOn ReservePolitical Science 139C: Sport, Politics and DevelopmentMartha SaavedraWednesdays and Fridays, 10:00 AM –12:00 PM166 BarrowsCCN: 72642Office: 356 Stephens Hall (Center for African Studies)Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00 – 4:00 PM and by appointmentPhone: 510.642.8338e-mail: [email protected] Website: http://ias.berkeley.edu/africa/courses/PS139c/This course will investigate the relationship between contemporary sport, politics and development. Sportis often posited as a tool to assist in economic and social development. The World Bank, the International Olympic Committee, international sport federations, major professional sport leagues, national governments and a myriad of other advocates argue that sport can contribute to the empowerment, prosperity, health and overall well being of individuals, communities, and nation-states. For countries facing acute demographic shifts towards youth, sport may alleviate unemployment, drug use and delinquency. Sport might also bring unity and peace to a troubled world. In this course we will examine these claims by looking at the history of modern sport, its relationship to the political realm, and its contributions to what is called "development". Though the course will include material from the United States, Europe, Australia, etc., the emphasis will be on the experience of “non-Western” countries and more marginalized populations. Some of the topics covered include: colonialism, imperialism, militarism,nationalism, the modern state, globalization, the Olympics, international sporting institutions, elite versus mass sport, and the hosting of “big events.” The course will pay close attention to factors of gender, sexuality, class and race.LEARNING OBJECTIVESGeneral Critical Thinking, Analytical and Problem Solving Skills1. Confront students with subtle, complex and ambiguous problems where there are no definite or correct solutions.2. Encourage students to develop an analytical framework, to ask ever more refined questions, to seek information using a variety of research and data collection skills.3. Assist students in developing the skills and confidence to move down the risky, but rewarding path of analysis, resolution and action despite incomplete information, unclear problems, and uncertain consequences.a. Assist students to develop competence in communicating their questions, insights and analysis.b. Provide students with supportive opportunities to present findings through oral and written means.c. Provide students with collaborative opportunities to develop skills in productive team work.Content Specific Concepts and Information1. Understand sport as more than practice or entertainment, but as a political and economic force that has a relationship of reciprocating influence with communities and societies where it is experienced.2. Gain critical insights into how sport reflects, creates, reinforces and resists social forces particularly those bound up with political and economic power and that affect gender, sexuality, class and race.3. Understand the emergence of modern sport and the significance of its temporal and spatial specificity to its practice and continued transformations particularly in the contemporary “developing” world.4. Gain an understanding of multiple trajectories and processes that make up the phenomenon of globalization through the study of the practices, institutions and uses of sport.5. Develop tools and skills to assess the costs and benefits of “developmental” activities purported to assist individuals, communities and nations.GRADINGDetails of the assignments will be explained in class. Final grades will be determined as follows:Participation –in class and online: 15%Midterm Examination: 25%Guided Journal ~ background, analysis, sport news, and commentary for assigned country: 15%Analytical Paper/Sport Development Plan (with journal as preparation): 15%Final Examination: 30%My goal is to provide an active learning environment for you, the student. Lecturing will be kept to a minimum. Preparation, attendance and participation by students is expected. This is a large class, and it is recognized that not everyone is an extrovert. “Moderated” discussions, small group work and online discussions should allow all to contribute. To earn an “A” grade, I expect excellence in all aspects of the course. Competent completion of all assignments will earn students a “B.”Some of the work will be done using Blackboard. All students will need to have a Blackboard account. Go to either http://blackboard.berkeley.edu/or http://edit.berkeley.edu:8000/ to log in. Information on creating a Blackboard account is here: http://ets.berkeley.edu/LearningSystems/CourseWeb/createBlackBoardAcct.htm. A FAQ sheet on Blackboard is here: http://ets.berkeley.edu/TrainingSupportCenter/Blackboard/StudentFaq/index.htmCOURSE MATERIALSBale, John, and Joe Sang. 1996. Kenyan running: movement culture, geography, and global change. London ; Portland, OR: F. Cass.Darby, Paul. 2002. Africa, football, and FIFA: politics, colonialism, and resistance. London ; Portland, OR: F. Cass.Other articles and chapters from books will be available in three formats. Some are available on the Internet. Because many of these come from proprietary sources to which UC Berkeley subscribes, they may require a Berkeley IP address to access. For most other articles and excerpts, there is a reader from Odin Readers that will be available for purchase at Ned’s Bookstore on Bancroft Avenue. A few articles were either unavailable at the time the reader went to press or were too expensive to include in the reader, and so are on reserve in Moffitt library. Also on reserve are books that may become useful to several students while working on the journals and paper; in order to ensure they are available to all, they are on reserve. Other books which are needed by several students can also be put on reserve as necessary. To see a list of material placed on reserve for the course, follow the instructions on this web page: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/services/reserves.html.PS 139C: Sport, Politics and DevelopmentM SaavedraFall 2004Last printed 8/31/2004 02:06:00 PM2The course website is http://ias.berkeley.edu/africa/courses/PS139c/. From there you can link to the onlinesyllabus, the Blackboard site for the course, and another other information. This site will be updated throughout the course.TOPIC AND READING ASSIGNMENT