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Publication Date

2024-5

First Advisor

Anna K. Mwaba

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Government

Keywords

sports politics, sports diplomacy, figure skating, Russia, China, Olympics, Olympic Movement, prestige, nationalism, soft power

Abstract

This thesis analyzes how states use the sport of figure skating in the international political system to acquire soft power, elevate their status and prestige, and foment nationalistic sentiment. By examining how China, Russia/the USSR, and other countries have developed the sport of figure skating, I find that figure skating has contributed to the projection of power and process of nation branding that states use to integrate themselves into the global community. The subjectivity of figure skating allows states to effectively harness it for political gain, and its artistic component allows it to integrate more deeply into a country’s culture than sports which focus solely on technical skill. However, the organizations that govern figure skating and the Olympic Movement can prevent states from using figure skating to their political advantage by exercising their power over the international sports system, creating political tension at the international level as they check the authority of states.

Rights

©2024 Grace Rade. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

129 pages : color illustrations. Includes bibliographical references (pages 108-129).

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