When the Whistle isn’t Neutral

Over the past three decades, corruption scandals, tournaments awarded to authoritarian states, and the persistent failure to enforce its own anti-discrimination rules have exposed FIFA not as a neutral arbiter of sport, but as a political actor in its own right. FIFA is not alone in this. Other sporting bodies such as the Olympics and Formula 1, each publicly commits to neutrality and universality, and each has proven, repeatedly, that when institutional interest conflicts with institutional principle, principle loses. … Continue readingWhen the Whistle isn’t Neutral

The Emperor’s New Groove? China’s Reimagined Image

China’s rise over the last several decades has at times been accompanied by turbulent relations with other states and the multilateral system more broadly.

As Owen Robinson writes, this has led to several efforts by the Chinese Government to transform its image on the global stage and with individuals on a smaller scale. … Continue readingThe Emperor’s New Groove? China’s Reimagined Image