The aim of this book, in discussing Elias’s theory, is not to refute it. Tendentiously, the theory works with its weaknesses and strong points and it has been enriched by a number of authors over time. The objective of this volume is to discuss the blind spots and, more simply, what is too often taken for granted: namely the obvious pacifying effect of sports and/or produced by sports. This analysis has been guided by two perspectives: the sociological one which questions the "naturalization" of sport which is also the naturalization of the "wildlings" which have to be civilized, and the other which comes from philosophical anthropology and attempts to comprehend the long term characteristics of this union – or disunion – of sport and violence. This book was previously published as a special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport.
Introduction
Dominique Bodin and Luc Robéne
1. Sport and Civilisation: Violence Mastered. From the Lack of a Definition for Violence to the Illusory Pacifying Role of Modern Sports
Dominique Bodin and Luc Robène
2. Sports and Violence Reflected in the Mirror of Modern Societies: Sport Ambiguities
Luc Robène and Dominique Bodin
3. Role Distance in Question: When it is No Longer Participating But Winning Which is Important
Luc Robène and Dominique Bodin
4. Sport to the Rescue of the Suburbs: Sport to Educate? Sport to Reassure? When Politicians Respond to the Signs of Disturbance of Law and Order
Dominique Bodin and Luc Robène
5. Hooligans, Casuals, Independents: Decivilisation or Rationalisation of the Activity?
Dominique Bodin and Luc Robène
6. Sport, Technique and Violence: The Technical Modes for Generating Sport Violence
Luc Robène and Dominique Bodin
7. Sport, Prison, Violence: On Imprisonment and Confinement Conditions – ‘French Prison Sport’ and the Instruments of the World’s Good Conscience
Luc Robène and Dominique Bodin
8. Sport and Civilisation: Violence Mastered? From Civilising Functions to Pacifying Functions
Dominique Bodin and Luc Robène
Biography
Dominique Bodin is a Professor at the University of Paris East Créteil (UPEC). France
Luc Robène is a Professor at the University of Bordeaux. France
