Sportsmanship and Politics: Xenophon on Ponos and Democratic Competition. (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Avramenko, Richard; Bunting, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Perspectives on political science. Volume 47:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Political science -- Book reviews -- Periodicals; Political science literature -- Periodicals; Political science -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Political science; Political science literature; Political science -- Study and teaching; Book reviews; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 320
• DOI: 10.1080/10457097.2017.1338092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-7097

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Even though agonistic democratic theory espouses and celebrates competition, it seemingly lacks a coherent ethic for decent winning and losing in everyday political life. This article is an effort to fill this void by suggesting a practice-based, non-perfectionist ethic drawn from sport. Focusing on Xenophon's On Hunting, we argue that sport, properly defined, offers an appropriate experience with ponos (toil, suffering) that teaches citizens perseverance, humility, generosity, empathy, and stewardship. This sporting ethic, we argue, provides a more suitable model for winning and losing in public life than the martial basis of agonistic democratic theory.