Sport in Latin America and the Caribbean

by Joseph L. Arbena (Editor), David G. LaFrance Benemérita Universidad Au (Editor)

Overview

Sport in Latin America and the Caribbean is the most comprehensive overview to date of the development of modern sports in Latin America. This new book illustrates how and why sport has become a central part of the political, economic, and social life of the region and the repercussions of its role.

This highly readable volume is composed of articles on a wide variety of sports-basketball, baseball, volleyball, cricket, soccer, and equestrian events-in countries and regions throughout Latin America, including Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Broad in scope, this volume explores the definition of modern sport; whether sport is enslaving, liberating, or neutral; if sport reflects or challenges dominant culture; the attributes and drawbacks of professional versus amateur sport; and the difference between sport in capitalist and socialist nations.

Other subjects that are addressed as they pertain to modern sport include: diffusion and globalization/internationalization; hegemony, dependency, and nationalism; politics and the state; culture, ethnicity, and race; economic class; gender; commercialization, modernization, and professionalization; health, morality, crime and vice; economics and labor productivity; and the media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842028202
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/01/2002
Series:	Jaguar Books on Latin America , #23
Pages:	241
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Joseph L. Arbena teaches Latin American history and geography and modern sports history at Clemson University. David G. LaFrance is research professor in the Benemérita Universidad Aut~noma de Puebla, Mexico.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 The Catholic Church and the Origins of Soccer in Costa Rica, 1904-1921 Chapter 3 The Case of Soccer in Early Twentieth-Century Lima Chapter 4 Soccer Madness: Futebol in Brazil Chapter 5 Soccer Conspiracies: Maradona, the CIA, and Popular Critique Chapter 6 Three Kings Day in Consuelo: Cricket, Baseball, and the Cocolos in San Pedro de Macorís Chapter 7 Labor, the State, and Professional Baseball in Mexico in the 1980s Chapter 8 Charreada: Performance and Interpretation of an Equestrian Folk Tradition in Mexico and the United States Chapter 9 Hosting the Summer Olympic Games: Mexico City, 1968 Chapter 10 Sport in Cuba: Castro's Last Stand Chapter 11 The Failure of Caribbean Integration: Lessons from Grass Roots Basketball Chapter 12 Sport in Nicaragua, 1889–1926 Chapter 13 The History of Peruvian Women's Volleyball Chapter 14 In Search of the Latin American Female Athlete Chapter 15 Suggested Readings

Editorial Reviews

A fascinating anthology, meticulously documented and engagingly written; it leaves the reader longing for more. Providing a pleasing entree into Latin American and Caribbean cultures, this collection richly demonstrates the symbiosis between sport and national consciousness. Bravo!

Joan M. Chandler

Joseph Arbena is unquestionably one of the world's leading authorities on Latin American sports. He and David LaFrance have put together a collection of essays that range from speculations on the political views of Argentine soccer idol Diego Maradona to shrewd sociological comments on the exploits of Peruvian female volleyball players. For those curious about Latin American and Caribbean sports, this is a fine place to begin.

Allen Guttmann

These essays provide stimulating and acute analyses of sport within the Latin American world. Written by a virtual all-star lineup of scholars, this book will be a real gem for the serious student of Latin culture.

Samuel O. Regalado

By taking a broad view of politics, business, and social history, the contributors to this volume show that sport is essential to understanding modern Latin America. The attention given to women athletes is particularly refreshing.

Jeffrey M. Pilcher

Arbena and LaFrance should be commended for promoting a field that promises to enhance both our understanding of modern Latin American culture as well as the way Latin Americans, in embracing U.S. and European sports, have transformed them into variations that are uniquely their own.

South Eastern Latin Americanist

A first-rate interdisciplinary compilation of the work of an impressive group of scholars, Sport in Latin America and the Caribbean fills a real void in cross-cultural sport studies.

Alan Klein

These thirteen articles provide an overview of the development of modern sport in Latin America and examine its role in the political, economic, and social life of the region. They consider the definition of sports, its liberating and demeaning aspects, its reflections of and challenges to the dominant culture, the differences in professional and amateur sports, and the differences between sports in capitalist and socialist countries. There is no index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Joseph Arbena is unquestionably one of the world's leading authorities on Latin American sports. He and David LaFrance have put together a collection of essays that range from speculations on the political views of Argentine soccer idol Diego Maradona to shrewd sociological comments on the exploits of Peruvian female volleyball players. For those curious about Latin American and Caribbean sports, this is a fine place to begin.--Allen Guttmann, president, North American Society for Sport History

A fascinating anthology, meticulously documented and engagingly written; it leaves the reader longing for more. Providing a pleasing entree into Latin American and Caribbean cultures, this collection richly demonstrates the symbiosis between sport and national consciousness. Bravo!--Joan M. Chandler, University of Texas at Dallas

A first-rate interdisciplinary compilation of the work of an impressive group of scholars, Sport in Latin America and the Caribbean fills a real void in cross-cultural sport studies.--Alan Klein, Northeastern University

From the Publisher