Power and Politics in World Athletics - Critical Institutional History

In this review of Power and Politics in World Athletics, the author provides a meticulous institutional history that will appeal to scholars and practitioners interested in how global sport organisations wield influence. The book offers the single biggest reason to read it: a detailed, archival-based account of the IAAF leadership that reveals how a handful of presidents shaped policy, stakeholders and international relations. Readers seeking an evidence-driven, critical treatment of governance in elite sport will find the book especially valuable.

Key Features

• First detailed history: Presents the first comprehensive history focused on the International Association of Athletics Federations and its leadership, filling a gap in sport governance literature.
• Archival research: Uses extensive primary sources to reconstruct decision-making and institutional strategy across more than a century.
• Leadership focus: Examines the impact of only six presidents in the IAAF's history to show how concentrated leadership shaped global athletics.
• Critical assessment: Offers a nuanced critique of internal power relations and the institutionalised strategies that reflected the organisation's interests.
• Broader context: Links the IAAF's development to national stakeholders and other international institutions to situate athletics within the global sport system.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at academics, postgraduate students and sport policy professionals who need a rigorous, archival account of governance in international athletics. It is also useful for historians of sport and comparative politics researchers looking for a case study of institutional power.

It is less suitable for casual readers seeking a light or anecdotal history of track and field; those audiences should look for narrative-driven sport histories or biographies that prioritise personality and event chronology over institutional analysis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Thorough archival foundation that strengthens the book's claims about institutional strategy.
• Clear focus on leadership provides a coherent analytical thread across the organisation's history.
• Connects internal IAAF dynamics to wider international and national sport systems for broader relevance.

Cons

• The emphasis on institutional and leadership analysis may feel dense for readers seeking a more narrative-driven or anecdotal approach.

Specifications

Title	Power and Politics in World Athletics
Series	Routledge Critical Studies in Sport
Author	Jorg Krieger
Subject focus	History and governance of the IAAF / World Athletics
Research basis	Extensive archival research
Analytical scope	Internal power relations and leadership impact

Our Verdict

Power and Politics in World Athletics is a well-researched, analytically rigorous study that illuminates how a small leadership cadre influenced global athletics over more than a century. Academics and policy specialists will find it excellent value for its archival evidence and critical framing, while readers seeking lighter storytelling should choose a different title.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book cover the IAAF's name change to World Athletics?
Yes, the narrative situates the organisation's history up to the period when the IAAF became known as World Athletics, using leadership transitions to explain institutional shifts.

What research methods does the author use?
The author relies on extensive archival research to reconstruct leadership decisions and institutional strategies across the IAAF's history.

Is this book suitable for non-academic readers?
It is primarily written for an academic and professional audience; non-specialist readers may find the analytical tone and institutional focus dense.