Behind the scenes of sport for development: Perspectives of executives of multinational sport organizations. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Waldman, Devra; Wilson, Brian
• Is Part Of: International review for the sociology of sport. Volume 52:Number 6(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 651
• Page End: 674
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: cricket -- decision-making -- development -- postcolonialism -- sport; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.48305
• DOI: 10.1177/1012690215620766
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1012-6902

Abstract

This article reports findings from a study designed to examine cricket's role as an international development tool – with a particular focus on how decisions are made at the highest institutional levels to support cricket-related development initiatives. Data for the study are drawn from interviews with executives in the International Cricket Council and the Marylebone Cricket Club who were asked about how and why decision-makers in their organizations chose to engage in development-related work. The study is informed by literature on postcolonialism, sport for development and peace, global politics and the sociology of cricket. The results illustrate that: (a) a select group of executives in the International Cricket Council and the Marylebone Cricket Club make decisions hierarchically, and that decisions reflect organizational mandates; (b) decision-makers tend to be dismissive of critiques of sport for development and peace, with notable exceptions; and (c) the goals and implications of development-related programmes are portrayed differently to different audiences. This article concludes with commentary on the ways that cricket continues to be implicated in postcolonial relationships and on the processes of decision-making in organizations governed by neoliberal policies.