{"product_id":"power-and-politics-in-world-athletics-critical-institutional-history","title":"Power and Politics in World Athletics - Critical Institutional History","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFirst detailed history:\u003c\/strong\u003e Presents the first comprehensive history focused on the International Association of Athletics Federations and its leadership, filling a gap in sport governance literature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArchival research:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uses extensive primary sources to reconstruct decision-making and institutional strategy across more than a century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeadership focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Examines the impact of only six presidents in the IAAF's history to show how concentrated leadership shaped global athletics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCritical assessment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Offers a nuanced critique of internal power relations and the institutionalised strategies that reflected the organisation's interests.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBroader context:\u003c\/strong\u003e Links the IAAF's development to national stakeholders and other international institutions to situate athletics within the global sport system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eThorough archival foundation that strengthens the book's claims about institutional strategy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eClear focus on leadership provides a coherent analytical thread across the organisation's history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eConnects internal IAAF dynamics to wider international and national sport systems for broader relevance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eThe emphasis on institutional and leadership analysis may feel dense for readers seeking a more narrative-driven or anecdotal approach.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePower and Politics in World Athletics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoutledge Critical Studies in Sport\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJorg Krieger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistory and governance of the IAAF \/ World Athletics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eResearch basis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExtensive archival research\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnalytical scope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eInternal power relations and leadership impact\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePower 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book cover the IAAF's name change to World Athletics?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat research methods does the author use?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe author relies on extensive archival research to reconstruct leadership decisions and institutional strategies across the IAAF's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book suitable for non-academic readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is primarily written for an academic and professional audience; non-specialist readers may find the analytical tone and institutional focus dense.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jorg Krieger","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48772940136667,"sku":"0367434474","price":170.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/812wHbusLRL._SL1500.jpg?v=1778730815","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/power-and-politics-in-world-athletics-critical-institutional-history","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}