Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
Legitimacy refers to the appropriateness of an institution or social system in terms of laws, values, norms, and definitions (Deephouse et al., 2017, p. 28), and is intrinsically linked to power. The concept of political legitimacy is often analyzed as an executive struggle to discover truth; this political power involves the effort to persuade the public that material goals are rationally justified and that those allocating resources are morally suitable to do so. Sport embodies notions of pride, community, and social categories, and the slogan "Sport for All" serves as an active instrument through which politicians and state actors sanctify and legitimize their actions. In turn, sport can benefit from this mutual interest. Overall, sport is increasingly viewed as a domain of public policy (Skille et al., 2022, p. 112), playing a significant role in reinforcing social bonds and formal relationships—an act of legitimization in itself (Al-Khalifa & Farlow, 2021, p. 250). However, to date, there has been no comprehensive study that examines the overall functions of sport in the process of political legitimization. Accordingly, the present research aims to explore and analyze the role of sport in the political legitimacy of governments. The central question of this study is: What are the functions of sport in contributing to the political legitimacy of governments?
Methods
Thematic analysis is a method that focuses on identifying meaning within a data set, and its goal is to determine the approach, understand and interpret hidden concepts, and extract, understand, and infer meaning from the data (Maguire and Delahant, 2017, p. 3353). Accordingly, the research data set using this method was derived from searching for the terms politics and sports, political legitimacy of sports, political functions of sports, role of sports in politics, sports and governance, and sports and policymaking through reliable scientific sources and databases including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library, Taylor & Francis Online, Sage Journals, and Emerald. Furthermore, in order to confirm the research findings and ensure their transferability, the research results and findings were provided to five experts in this field, and internal validity (acceptability) as well as external validity (the ability to transfer findings to other contexts) were approved by these experts. To ensure consistency or reliability and to be able to confirm or prove the quality of the research, the data analysis method was provided to two reviewers specializing in this field and was subsequently approved.
Results
Based on the understanding and interpretation of hidden concepts, as well as the comprehension and inference of meaning from the data of the present study, 121 primary concepts or codes, 26 sub-themes, and 10 main themes, along with the legitimizing functions of sports in the political sector, were extracted. According to the research findings, the functions of sports in the political legitimization of governments include soft power, identity and nationalism, social guidance and control, strengthening government and public policy, sovereign function, urban governance and development, political discourse and media, equal opportunity, and peacebuilding. Each of these functions is discussed and examined in detail below. The findings indicate that sport serves not merely as a recreational or athletic endeavor but as a multifaceted instrument that governments can strategically deploy to reinforce their legitimacy across various domains of political and social life.
Conclusion
Sport maintains a reciprocal relationship with various social, political, and cultural forces, giving rise to the field of political sociology of sport. On one hand, political strategies and governmental financial support significantly influence the development of sport; on the other hand, sport impacts politics by reinforcing human values, fostering national solidarity, and encouraging political participation (Malekoutian, 2009). States utilize sport as a tool to legitimize political authority, promote public order, ensure human rights, and enhance national unity and collective identity (Kang & Houlihan, 2021; Fazeli, 2012). Additionally, sport functions as an element of soft power, shaping national identity, security, and international relations (Shen, 2020; Shahrezaei & Shirzadi, 2016). Thinkers such as Bourdieu and Durkheim have also emphasized the symbolic and ritualistic dimensions of sport, suggesting that, much like religion, sport fosters social cohesion, loyalty, and legitimacy within a society. However, sport also faces critical challenges. The persistent gap between professional and participatory sport in policymaking renders it vulnerable to being politically exploited (Green & Houlihan, 2005; Sam & Torrongla, 2018). While sport can evoke national pride and strengthen collective identity, it can simultaneously exacerbate ethnic, religious, or national tensions (Chalip, 2006; Dolan & Connolly, 2018). In this regard, sport is a double-edged sword: it has the capacity to unify, but it also holds the potential to divide. Therefore, leveraging sport as a means of political and national legitimization requires careful consideration of its dual potential and the implementation of well-balanced, thoughtfully designed policies that maximize its unifying benefits while minimizing the risks of division and exploitation.
Article Message
With its software capabilities, sports affect fundamental components of politics and international relations, including security, national interests, power and authority, economics, political acceptance, diplomacy, and soft power. Politicians and governments also use sports to maintain public order, establish justice and protect human rights, enhance the image and power of a society or nation, promote national unity, reproduce values consistent with the dominant political ideology, increase support and backing for political leaders and the government, and facilitate economic and social development. Therefore, the most important specific political function of sports is to control and direct public opinion, to present an efficient image of governments, and ultimately to create legitimacy, national solidarity, and nation-building.
Ethical Considerations
Throughout this research, adherence to ethical standards was rigorously maintained, including the accurate reporting of findings, proper attribution of sources, and avoidance of any form of data manipulation or misrepresentation.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study.
Authors' Contributions
Conceptualization: Maryam Besharati Moghadam, Rahim Ramezaninejad
Data Collection: Maryam Besharati Moghadam
Data Analysis: Maryam Besharati Moghadam
Manuscript Writing: Maryam Besharati Moghadam
Review and Editing: Rahim Ramezaninejad, Mohamad Mahdi Rahmati
Funding Responsibility: Maryam Besharati Moghadam
Literature Review: Maryam Besharati Moghadam
Project Management: Rahim Ramezaninejad, Maryam Besharati Moghadam, Mohamad Mahdi Rahmati
Acknowledgments
The authors sincerely thank all the professors who added to the richness of this research with their careful observations and valuable comments throughout the various stages of this study.