Militarism, Sport, Europe War Without Weapons

Virtually everywhere, directly or indirectly, modern men are prepared for war through sport. It has been no different in the past. Throughout history a constant imperative has been a moral commitment to defend the society. Sport has played its part in the inculcation of this commitment. However, sport has also been considered both a substitute for war and an antidote to war. This collection explores the relationship between sport and war and brings together established authors, including Peter J Beck, Hans Bonde, Vassil Girginov, J A Mangan, John McClelland and Gertrud Pfister, and emerging authors such as Steve Bailey, Penelope Kissoudi, Orestis Kustrin, Callum McKenzie, Alethea Melling, Antonio Misseroli, Hamad Ndee and Roberta Vescori.

A collection of essays exploring the relationship between sport and war, bringing together established authors that include Peter Beck, Hans Bonde, J.A. Mangan and Gertrud Pfister, and emerging authors such as Penelope Kissoudi, Orestis Kustrin, Callum McKenzie and Roberta Vescovi.

Prologue - combative sports and combative societies, J.A. Mangan; from the battlefield to the arena - gladiators, militarism and the Roman republic, Donald G. Kyle; lasting legacy? spartan life as a Germanic educational ideal - Karl Otfried Muller and "Die Dorier", Orestis Kustrin and J.A. Mangan; ball games, from the Roman gentleman to the Renaissance warrior, John McClelland; military drill - rather more than "brief and basic" - English elementary schools and English militarism, J.A. Mangan and Callum McKenzie; wartime opportunities - ladies' football and the First World War factories, Ali Melling; antidote to war - the Balkan games, Penelope Kissoudi; children into soldiers - sport and fascist Italy, Roberta Vescovi; confronting George Orwell - Philip Noel-Baker on international sport, particularly the Olympic movement, as peacemaker, Peter J. Beck; compromise and confrontation - Danish sport under the swastika, Hans Bonde; Cold War diplomats in tracksuits - the "Frauleinwunder" of East German sport, Gertrud Pfister; fitness "wars" - purpose and politics in communist state-building, Vassil Girginov; epilogue - many mansions and many architectural styles, J.A. Mangan.