Sport and Conflict: Is Football an Appropriate Tool to Utilise in Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation or Reconstruction?

This dissertation surveys the contribution of team-sports to peacebuilding, conceived here as conflict resolution, reconciliation and reconstruction. It advocates team-sports as a tool to address cultural violence, engender reconciliation and aid rehabilitation primarily by building social networks and educating participants.

Team-sports are transcultural and can provide an apolitical environment in which others can learn to trust, respect and work together under conditions of equality, as well as a framework for the delivery of other ‘services’. Sport is no panacea for conflict, but can play a key part in a holistic peacebuilding strategy.

[Abstract adapted from the author]