IE Talks in Edinburgh: Games of Power - The Impact of Sports on Geopolitics

Join Professor Andrew Bertoli for an engaging exploration of how sports have been used to shape geopolitics throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. From world leaders and international organizations to athletes, the efforts to leverage sports for political goals have ranged from encouraging peace and promoting human rights to inciting nationalism and sportswashing. These endeavours have left a lasting imprint on the world of sports, particularly at the international level, sometimes backfiring and producing unintended consequences.

In this masterclass, you will delve into several notable examples that are crucial for understanding world history, the current nature of sports, and the potential of sports to influence the future. Professor Bertoli’s extensive research examines how sports influence world politics, whether international sports encourage peace between countries, how dictators exploit international sporting events for political gain, and the effects of banning countries from international sports.

Professor Bertoli, who previously taught courses on international security and research methods at UC Berkeley and held postdoctoral fellowships at Dartmouth and the University of Southern California, brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this fascinating topic. He received his Ph.D. in political science from UC Berkeley in 2016.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between sports and geopolitics with a leading expert in the field. Join us in Edinburgh on November 4th!