Sports Policy and Politics in the Western Balkans

<p>This book examines how states in the post-socialist Western Balkans region have used sport as a policy tool and how sport in the region has been shaped by politics history and culture.</p><p>Looking closely at the intersection of sports policy and politics in the countries of Serbia Montenegro Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina this book explores the roles of sport in nation-building and how sport has been used by regimes looking to establish political legitimacy in the transition from the post-socialist era. It offers a fascinating insight into the way that sport has been co-opted for political purposes and into the complexities of formulating sports policy and wider public policy in societies in which governance structures may be weak and in which clientelism corruption and partisanship pose constant challenges.</p><p>This book is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the history and politics of sport in public policy or in the history politics and culture of the former Yugoslav countries.</p>