British Militarism, Sport, Remembrance by John Kelly

British Militarism, Sport, Remembrance by John Kelly

British Militarism, Sport, Remembrance: "Support the Troops" critically explores the complex and evolving relationship between sport and militarism in the UK, offering an in-depth analysis of how political power and ideological narratives are constructed and contested through this nexus.

Framed around a clear thematic arc spanning power, politics, media representation, sociological interpretation, and ideological paradox, the book provides the first comprehensive resource on the sport-military connection in a British context. Drawing from a wide range of examples, it examines how sport is routinely employed to generate public support for the military, particularly through campaigns and rituals linked to national remembrance and troop appreciation. Each chapter builds on the last: from unpacking the political dimensions of militarism and sport, to analysing the ideological weight of UK remembrance culture, to demonstrating how deeply embedded military support narratives are within sporting institutions. Ultimately, the book reveals how these narratives function in public life and media and exposes the ideological reality of the overarching "support the troops" orthodoxy embedded in everyday life in the UK.

This book will be useful for students, scholars, and researchers in the fields of sociology, political science, sport studies, cultural studies, and media studies, as well as policymakers and those working in the military or sport sectors who seek a deeper understanding of the ideological role of sport in shaping public perceptions of the military in the UK.

"In this careful examination of how British militarism emerges (and is contested) through sport, John Kelly offers a timely reminder of why we must continue to critically interrogate our relationship with the militaryImportant reading for all Critical Military Studies scholars".

Dr Alice Cree, Associate Editor of Critical Military Studies, Newcastle University

"A fascinating critique of the cultural value of sport to the British military, which expertly examines how militarism has become embedded (and at times resisted) within the spectacle of professional sport. A valuable resource for anyone interested in how sociology, media, and politics operate within sport."

Dr David Scott, Social Sciences of Sport scholar, Abertay University

John Kelly is a founding member of the Edinburgh Critical Studies in Sport (ECSS) research group and is a former Director of Postgraduate Research at the University of Edinburgh, UK. His research interests are varied, and his articles have looked at "sectarianism", Scottish football and the media, the sociology of rugby union, symbolic self-representations of ballet dancers, sport and militarism, and schoolchildren’s virtual idealised body image. His previous books are Sport and Social Theory: An Introduction (co-written with Gyozo Molnar), Bigotry, Football and Scotland (co-edited with John Flint), and Routledge Handbook of Sport and Politics (co-edited with Alan Bairner and Jung Woo Lee).