Rationalities of goodwill: on the promotion of philanthropy through sports-based interventions in Sweden

Abstract

Organised in public-private partnerships, sports-based interventions for social inclusion are often seen as sites of strategies involving sport associations, social entrepreneurs, volunteers and sponsors in the provision of welfare. Here, we spotlight two midnight football practices acted out in two mid-sized Swedish cities promoting social inclusion, examining, from a governmentality perspective, how supportive community actors conceptualise their charitable contributions enabling opportunities for underprivileged youth to participate in sports. Analysis outlines how actors articulate their particular background, experiences and social networks as resources to provide support, stressing that provision needs to make a difference and support the less fortunate in the community. The provision imbues a political potential, as a means of promoting social change, guided by certain notions of the good society and of the good citizen. Involvement provides a site for realising particular visions of social change, while animating the contributions provided as non-political acts of goodwill.

A Model of Discipline: The Rule(s) of Midnight Football and the Production of Order in Subjects and Society

“…The examination presented is limited to analyses of how the rationality of rule is articulated and promoted by managers and coaches of the intervention examined. Previously, the perspective and discourse of a variety of stakeholders have been interrogated (Ekholm & Dahlstedt, 2018; Ekholm & Holmlid, 2020); but, to explore and understand the rationality of the intervention from a multi-perspective, we need to interrogate also how participation is experienced, made intelligible, and articulated by participants themselves. Principally, such examination of the narratives of participants could outline the experiences of subjugation and possibilities of resistance (cf.…”

Sustaining Equality and Equity. A Scoping Review of Interventions Directed towards Promoting Access to Leisure Time Physical Activity for Children and Youth

“…The specific target groups in the studies were young people not engaged in sport [51], unassociated youth in deprived residential areas [52], migrant and refugee children and youth [53,54], minority youth [55], migrant youth in socially disadvantaged areas [56], underprivileged youth [57,58], children and youth in socially disadvantaged areas [59,60], and young people experiencing psychological and/or social problems [61]. Five out of 10 interventions aimed to engage the target groups in LTPA activities as an alternative to criminal or "rowdy behavior" during weekends or holidays [52,[55][56][57][58][59].…”

“…The element of close proximity was key in nine out of 10 interventions in this category in order to establish a connection to local youth perceived as needing help to establish healthy relationships to both adults and other youth [52,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61].…”

(Re)forming the Inside/Outside: On Place as a Governable Domain through Sports-Based Interventions

“…In West City, the municipality provides minor association grants, while in East City, the municipality provides significant funding through an assignment agreement (Ekholm, 2019). Moreover, the interventions are supported by sponsors and charitable community actors (Ekholm & Dahlstedt, 2018). The sport activities-five-a-side indoor football on Saturday evenings at 20:00-target young people aged 12-25 (Ekholm & Dahlstedt, 2019).…”