Converting sports diplomacy to diplomatic outcomes: Introducing a sports diplomacy model

Kambiz Abdi, Mahdi Talebpour, Jami Fullerton, Mohammad Javad Ranjkesh and Hadi Jabbari Nooghabi
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Kambiz Abdi: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran
Mahdi Talebpour: Faculty of Sports Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran
Jami Fullerton: School of Global Studies and Partnerships, Oklahoma State University, USA
Mohammad Javad Ranjkesh: Faculty of Economics and Administrative sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran
Hadi Jabbari Nooghabi: Faculty of Mathematics, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran

International Area Studies Review, 2018, vol. 21, issue 4, 365-381

Abstract: As sport has become an integral part of society, it has also become a tool for diplomacy around the world. The purpose of this study is to introduce a sports diplomacy model and identify “the critical abilities†for converting sport soft power tools into resources for diplomatic outcomes. The data for this research comprise 30 online surveys completed by international experts in the fields of sports and public diplomacy. The responses were qualitatively analyzed using the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM). After running two rounds of fuzzy Delphi, two main strategies for sports diplomacy emerged—maintaining “official and sports diplomacy solidarity†and using sport figures as “competent cultural ambassadors.†The proposed model includes the most applicable sports diplomacy resources, the most expected diplomatic outcomes, and the major conversion tools (skillful strategies) in the viewpoint of sports and public diplomacy experts. The application of the model finds that states can expect diplomatic outcomes if appropriate sports diplomacy resources and conversion strategies are implemented in an orderly, innovative and accurate manner.

Keywords: Sports diplomacy; conversion strategy; fuzzy Delphi method (FDM); model; Nye (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:intare:v:21:y:2018:i:4:p:365-381

DOI: 10.1177/2233865918808058

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