‘Decentring’ Sport for Development Research:

Iain Lindsey 10 June 2010

Perspectives from Zambian Communities

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Perspectives in Existing Literature

• Published literature largely focuses on international dimensions of the sport-for-development movement

• Critiques often situated in a post-colonial framework

• Lack of in-country studies recognised and ‘anthropological’ research called for (Hayhurst, 2009)

• Current in-country studies typically examine a single (sponsored) organisation or programme

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Perspectives in Existing Literature

Implications:

• implicit and explicit assumptions that development is international

• overarching portrayal of hegemonic neo-liberal philosophy and ‘global governance’ of sport-for-development

• little consideration of potential agency within the Global South

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Research Methods

• Decentred approach seeks to interpret ‘ways in which individuals create, sustain and modify social life, institutions and policies’ (Bever & Rhodes, 2006, p98)

• University-funded study into local perspectives on sport and youth development in Zambia

• Research undertaken in partnership with two indigenous sport-for-development NGOs (Lindsey et al., 2010)

• Case studies of two Lusaka communities through 38 interviews (with approx 60 interviewees)

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Chawama

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Kamwala

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Stakeholders in Local Sport for Development

• Diversity of sporting and generic indigenous organisations – community, faith-based, governmental and private

• Both despair and declarations of community independence in response to limited external involvement

• Attempts to re-establish local state intervention, advocacy and co-ordination

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Local Sport for Development Aims

• Sport almost universally seen as a key contributor to community-based development

• Multiple meanings attached to sport:

– bringing young people together (as end in itself)

– method of engagement and diversionary activity

– education tool for development of generic and specific ‘life’ skills

• Consistent with understandings of interconnected nature of complex social problems address

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Local Sport for Development Approaches & Issues

• Approaches attempt to challenge community and global norms and forces ...

• … whilst also being culturally specific and relevant (e.g. hope engendered by peer leaders progression)

• Financial resource challenges linked to international events and policies …

• … but local perspectives emphasise physical resource issues

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Conclusions

• A challenge to singular narratives regarding international sport for development?

• Complex and uneasy fusing of global forces and local cultures, aims and approaches

• Need to embrace ‘imperfect implementation’ - policy makers should learn from and value local diversity

• Gaining ‘decentred’ perspectives valuable in identifying unexamined issues and alternative research agendas

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AcknowledgementsThis research was jointly undertaken with:

Alan Grattan (University of Southampton)

and would also not have been possible with the support of:

Annie Namukanga, George Kakomwe and Greg Shikombelo

together with their organisations (Edusport and Sport in Action).

The involvement of all immensely enhanced the research as well as my personal experiences and understanding of Zambian communities.

Contact details: lindseyi@edgehill.ac.uk

‘Decentring’ Sport for Development Research:

Iain Lindsey 10 June 2010

Perspectives from Zambian Communities