Summer 2026
The International Relations of Global Sport
Dates: June 08, 2026 – July 10, 2026Day/Time: Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday; Thursday; Friday 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM EDT
Level: 200-Level
Certificate: Global Studies
Global Studies certificate requirement: Elective.
Instructor: John Stanlake, American University of Afghanistan
This course introduces students to the multiple ways in which sport serves as a lens for understanding social, cultural, economic, and political forces at both national and global levels. Sport is not merely a form of entertainment; it reflects broader power structures, social hierarchies, and cultural identities, while also functioning as a platform through which change can occur. There are many ways in which sport acts as an agent for transformation, shaping public discourse, influencing policy decisions, and affecting diplomatic relations. At the same time, key arenas of political and social life can be better understood through interactions that take place within and around sport. The course analyzes interactions among multiple actors, including states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, corporations, identity groups, and individuals. Using specific sporting events and institutions as case studies, students will examine how these actors pursue interests, exercise power, and negotiate conflict. Topics include international governmental and non-governmental organizations, human rights and migrant worker abuse, diplomatic crises and geopolitical tensions, nationalism and identity formation, protests and social movements, and the political economy of major sporting events. By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of the social, political, and economic forces that shape the global system. They will also gain insight into how these forces interact across cultures and borders and how sport both reflects and influences broader global dynamics.
This is session 2 course. Deadline to register is June 5.
Credits: 3 US / 6 ECTS