TeamArab:al‐Jazeeraand the flagging of everydayArabism during the 2008BeijingOlympics

Abstract

The linking of living rooms across state borders by al‐Jazeera and other pan‐Arab satellite television channels has prompted claims that a ‘new Arabism’ that undermines state nationalism is emerging. Until now, analysts have mostly focused on the ‘hot’ Arabism in the news coverage of politicised events such as the Israel–Palestine conflict. This article offers a new dimension by suggesting that as important to satellite television's construction and reproduction of Arab identity is the everyday discourse found in less overtly political programmes such as sport. To demonstrate this, it offers an analysis of al‐Jazeera's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics showing how the broadcasts address viewers as a common Arab audience who are simultaneously encouraged to be nationalistic towards their separate nation‐states within a given ‘Arab arena’ of states with whom they should primarily compete. This suggests that new Arabism should in fact be considered a ‘supranationalism’, not a revived Arab nationalism as it simultaneously promotes Arab and state identities in tandem. Finally, it aims to expand our understanding of ‘everyday nationalism’ by adapting Michael Billig's theory and methodology of ‘banal nationalism’ in British newspapers to facilitate the study of sport on supranational Arab identity on satellite television.

The Routledge Handbook to the Middle East and North African State and States System

“…Before closing, it is worth making a distinction between Arab nationalism and Arabism; whereas the former is an ideology, the latter is not, but rather it relates to the promotion of all the cultural facets shared and expressed within Arab identity without political aims. Thus, Arabism is widespread-Arabic and Arab film, music and literature, for example, are all very popular and are shared across the region (Phillips 2012). However, if they are then harnessed for a specific political agenda, it is more often than not because they connect to anti-colonial sentiments parallel to a political, and not a culturalist, ideological vision.…”

Al-Jazeera and the Arab Uprisings: The Language of Images and a Medium's Stancetaking

“…While people in Arab nation‐states may be proud citizens of these countries, a sense of sharing a common destiny emerges through the collective imaginings of history, language, religious beliefs, and other factors. Such a sense of community among the various Arab societies, argues Phillips (), is indeed a form of “supranational” community. “Supranationalism” may not supersede the ties of state nationality.…”

“…Many media scholars have observed that Al‐Jazeera's broadcasts have contributed to a sense of unity among Arab communities (Fahmy & Johnson, ; Mihelj, Bajt, & Pankov, ; Miladi, ; Phillips, ; Pintak, ; Rinnawi, ). In fact, some scholars (Pintak, ; Rinnawi, ) note that during the recent uprisings in Arab communities, Al‐Jazeera presented a slanted viewpoint in its approach to the events' unfolding.…”

A draw for Flemish nationalism: Institutional change and stability in the Belgian sport system

“…Scholars of sport and nationalism tend to focus exclusively on the identity‐generating potential of sport. Participation in international sport competitions (e.g., Philips, 2012; Watson, 2017), hosting major sport events (e.g., Harris, 2015), celebration of national sport stars (e.g., Tranter & Donoghue, 2021) and practice or consumption of ‘traditional’ national sport (e.g., Watson, 2017) are all regarded as activities that are conducive to the creation of shared myths, memories, symbols and/or traditions. These are, in turn, crucial elements for building a national identity (Smith, 2002).…”

“…Scholars of sport and nationalism tend to focus exclusively on the identity-generating potential of sport. Participation in international sport competitions (e.g., Philips, 2012;Watson, 2017), hosting major sport events (e.g., Harris, 2015), celebration of national sport stars (e.g.,…”