A set of studies looking at the history, politics, and sociology of sports in the Arab world

The sociology of sports in the Middle East has been neglected compared to other world regions. This volume aspires to encourage a greater focus on this topic. Here are assembled papers that discuss various aspects of this subject. As it happens all deal with football (soccer) largely in Egypt but including other Middle Eastern countries. Some are historically or politically oriented while others take a more sociological approach. Papers deal with the relation between organized sports and fans, with the special place of youngsters and women in sports, or with the role of sports in a more general understanding of culture and society as indicators of modernization and other facets of social change. Sportive competitions arouse keen passions around such issues as gender, class, and nationality, while they raise questions about leadership on and off the field, and about the economic impact of the games. The topic needs more research.

Contributors:
Deena Abdelmonem
Zeinab Abul-Magd
Yasmine Ahmed
Sandrine Gamblin
Ellis Goldberg
Nicholas S. Hopkins
Clement M. Henry
Hans Christian Korsholm Nielsen
Dina Makram-Ebeid
David Sims