Freedom for Catalonia?: Catalan Nationalism, Spanish Identity and the Barcelona Olympic Games

by John Hargreaves

Overview

Although the fight for independence by ethnic minorities has received much attention recently, there is no study of how globalized sport in its most advanced form can help to stimulate it. This book shows how the 1992 Olympic Games raised the tension that already existed between Catalonia and Spain. John Hargreaves analyzes and explains the way in which the conflict developed and eventually was resolved in terms of the special characteristics of Catalan nationalism, the nature of the new Spanish democracy and the special role played by the International Olympic Committee.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521584265
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/23/2000
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.51(d)
Lexile:	1520L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

Abbreviations; List of tables; Maps; Introduction; 1. Sport and nationalism; 2. Catalan nationalism; 3. The relationship between Olympism, globalisation and nationalism; 4. The war of the flags and the Paz Olímpica; 5. Catalanisation versus Españolisation; 6. Symbolising the international dimension; 7. The outcome; 8. Conclusion; Endnotes; Bibiography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Freedom for Catalonia provides a stimulating sociological exploration of the dynamic interaction between regional, local andn national identities during the organization and staging of the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992... Hargreaves provides a good model for staging a broad discussion of national identity through a close reading of a particular Olympic Games." Pamela Radcliff, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"Carefully documented and resting on a significant amount of participant observation, Hargreaves' book makes an imporatant contribution in several areas of inquiry." Bulletin of The Society for Spanish and portuguese Historical Studies

From the Publisher