Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T15:04:45.665Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Globalization and Chinese Sport Policy: The Case of Elite Football in the People's Republic of China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2010

Tien-Chin Tan  and
Alan Bairner
Tien-Chin Tan
Affiliation:
National Taiwan Normal University. Email: tangtony60@yahoo.com.tw
Alan Bairner
Affiliation:
Loughborough University. Email: a.e.s.bairner@lboro.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse China's engagement in global sport through an examination of the case of elite football. Although many studies exhibit a quite proper concern with the extent to which the deep structure of culture is affected by sports globalization, they generally fail to give significant consideration to the role of the state, because of excessive emphasis on other aspects of globalization such as commercialization, commodification and cultural homogenization. We attempt, therefore, to refocus on the role of the state and to investigate its relationship with global sport by adopting the theoretical framework of Held et al. (1999) as the main analytical tool for this study. By taking strategic approaches in the economic and cultural/ideological fields, the Chinese government has demonstrated, to some degree, its capacity to find effective ways to manage its relationship with global football. This was demonstrated particularly by the setting up of new governmental commercial agencies, updating sport and football regulations, and strengthening Chinese communist ideological education.

Type
Articles
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 203 , September 2010 , pp. 581 - 600
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Maguire, Joseph, Global Sport: Identities, Societies, Civilizations (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1999)Google Scholar; Bairner, Alan, Sport, Nationalism, and Globalization: European and North American Perspectives (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2001)Google Scholar; Miller, Toby, Lawrence, Geoffrey A, McKay, Jim and Rowe, David, Globalization and Sport. Playing the World (London: Sage Publications, 2001)Google Scholar; Bottenburg, Maarten Van, Global Games (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2001)Google Scholar.

2 Bairner, Alan, “Creating a soccer strategy for Northern Ireland: reflections on football governance in small European countries,” Soccer and Society, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2004), pp. 37–42CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

3 Zhang, X.J., “China in the global economy,” in Kelly, D.A., Rajan, R.A. and Goh, G.H.L. (eds.), Managing Globalization: Lessons from China and India (London: World Scientific Publishing Co., 2006), p. 25Google Scholar.

4 Chan, Gerald, China's Compliance in Global Affairs: Trade, Arms Control, Environmental Protection, Human Rights (Singapore: World Scientific, 2006)Google Scholar.

5 Houlihan, Barrie, “Sports globalisation, the state and the problem of governance,” in Slack, T. (eds.), The Commercialisation of Sport (London: Sage, 2005), p. 53Google Scholar.

6 Zhang, “China in the global economy,” p. 25.

7 Jackson, S.J., Grainger, A. and Batty, R., “Media sport, globalisation and the challenges to commercialisation: sport advertising and cultural resistance in Aotearoa/New Zeland,” in Slack, T. (ed.), The Commercialisation of Sport (London: SAGE, 2005), p. 207Google Scholar.

8 Hall, P. and Soskice, D., “Introduction,” in Hall, P. and Soskice, D. (eds.), Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Comparatives Advantage (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

9 Garrett, Geoffrey, Partisan Politics in Global Economy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

10 Weiss, Linda, State in the Global Economy: Bringing Domestic Institutions Back In (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

11 Scharpf, Fritz W., Governing in Europe (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000)Google Scholar.

12 Weiss, State in the Global Economy, pp. 27–28.

13 Fan, Hong and Xiong, Xiaozheng, “Communist China: sport, politics and diplomacy,” in Mangan, J.A. and Fan, Hong (eds.), Sport in Asian Society (London: Frank Cass, 2003), p. 333Google Scholar; MacFarquhar, Roderick, The Politics of China – The Eras of Mao and Deng (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997), p. 2CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Jinxia, Dong, Women, Sport and Society in Modern China (London: MPG Books Ltd, 2003), p. 75Google Scholar; Ness, P.V. and Raichur, S., “Dilemmas of socialist development: an analysis of strategic lines in China, 1949–1981,” in Cumings, B. (ed.), China from Mao to Deng – The Politics and Economics of Socialist Development (London: New York Zed Press, 1983), p. 81Google Scholar.

14 Giulianotti, Richard and Robertson, Roland, “Sport and globalization: transnational dimensions,” Global Networks, Vol. 7, No. 2 (2007), pp. 107–12CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Jarvie, Grant, Sport, Culture and Society: An Introduction (London: Routledge, 2006), p. 2Google Scholar; Houlihan, “Sports globalisation,” p. 56.

15 Tomlinson, John, “Globalization and cultural analysis,” in Held, David and McGrew, Anthony G. (eds.), Globalisation Theory (London: Polity Press, 2007), p. 164Google Scholar.

16 Ibid. p. 164, original emphasis.

17 Houlihan, “Sports globalisation,” p. 52.

18 Houlihan, Barrie, “Homogenization, Americanization, and creolization of sport: varieties of globalisation,” Sociology of Sport Journal, Vol. 11 (1994), pp. 356–75CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

19 Maguire, Joseph, “Sport and globalization,” in Coakley, Jay and Dunning, Eric (eds.), Handbook of Sports Studies (London: Sage, 2000), p. 366Google Scholar.

20 Houlihan, “Sports globalisation,” p. 56.

21 Held, David, McGrew, Anthony G., Goldblatt, David and Perraton, Jonathan, Global Transformations: Politics, Economics & Culture (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1999)Google Scholar.

22 Sabatier, Paul A., “Fostering the development of policy theory,” in Paul A. Sabatier (ed.), Theories of the Policy Process (London: Westview, 2006), pp. 321–22Google Scholar.

23 D. Schlager, “A comparison of frameworks, theories, and models of policy processes,” in Sabatier, Theories of the Policy Process, p. 294.

24 Ibid. p. 294.

25 Holton, Robert J., Making Globalization (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2005), p. 5CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

26 See for example Ohmae, Kenichi, The Borderless World (London: Collins, 1990)Google Scholar; Ohmae, Kenichi, The End of the Nation State (New York: Free Press, 1995)Google Scholar; Reich, Robert B., The Work of Nations: Preparing Ourselves for 21st-Century Capitalism (New York: Knopf, 1991)Google Scholar; Strange, Susan, State and Markets (London: Printer, 1994)Google Scholar; Strange, Susan, The Retreat of the State: The Diffusion of Power in the World Economy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Albrow, Martin, The Global Age (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1996)Google Scholar.

27 Holton, Making Globalization, p. 7.

28 Ohmae, The End of the Nation State, p. 5.

29 Hirst, Paul and Thompson, Grahame, Globalisation in Question: the International Economy and the Possibilities of Governance (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1998)Google Scholar.

30 Weiss, Linda, “Globalization and the myth of the powerless state,” New Left Review, Vol. 225 (1997), pp. 3–27Google Scholar.

31 Vogel, Steven Kent, Freer Markets, More Rules: Regulatory Reform in Advanced Industrial Countries (New York: Cornell University Press, 1996)Google Scholar.

32 Gilpin, Robert, Global Political Economy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001)Google Scholar.

33 Holton, Making Globalization, p. 9.

34 Mann, M., “Nation-state in Europe and other continents: diversifying, developing, not dying,” Daedulus (Summer 1993), pp. 115–40Google Scholar.

35 See also Weiss, “Globalization and the myth of the powerless state.”

36 Holton, Making Globalization, pp. 9–10.

37 Held, David and McGrew, Anthony G., Globalisation/Anti-Globalisation (Cambridge: Polity, 2000)Google Scholar; Held, David and McGrew, Anthony G., The Global Transformations Reader: an Introduction to the Globalisation Debate (Cambridge: Polity, 2002)Google Scholar.

38 Held et al., Global Transformations.

39 Marsh, David, Smith, M.J. and Hothi, N., “Globalization and the state,” in Hay, Colin, Lister, Michael and Marsh, David (eds.), The State: Theories and Issues (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), p. 175Google Scholar.

40 Held et al., Global Transformations.

41 Hay, Colin and Marsh, David, “Introduction,” Demystifying Globalization (London: Palgrave, 2000)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

42 Ibid. p. 6; Holton, Making Globalization, p. 10.

43 CFA, “Zhongguo zuqiu shiye shinian fazhan guihua (1993–2002)” (“The ten-year development project for Chinese football (1993–2002)”), in CFA (eds.), Zhongguo zuqiu shiye nianjian (Chinese Football Year Book 1992–1998) (Beijing: Xinhua chubanshe, 2000), p. 5Google Scholar.

44 Feng Liu, “Zhang Jilong renzhi yaaolishihui shenjian liang da zuzhi gaozhi shishang hanjian” (“It is unusual to see Jilong Zhang being selected as the First Vice AFC Chairman and chairman of the sports committee in Asian Olympic Committee at the same time”), Sina tiyuwang (Sina Sport News), 4 July 2009, http://sports.sina.com.cn/n/2009-07-04/16004465725.shtml, accessed on 25 July 2009.

45 NSC, “Guojia tiwei guanyu tigao woguo zuqiu jishu shuiping ruogan cuoshi di qingshi” (“The request instruction for raising China's elite football performance from NSC”), in National Sports Commission Policy Research Centre (ed.), Tiyuyundong wenjian xuanbian (Sports Documents Selections 1949–1981) (Beijing: Renmin tiyu chubanshe, 1982), p. 515Google Scholar.

46 CFA, Zhongguo zuqiu yundongshi (The History of Football in China) (Beijing: Wuhan chubanshe, 1993), p. 149Google Scholar.

47 Interview with a senior official in the CFA Competition Department, 10 January 2006.

48 Wang, Junsheng, Wang Junsheng huiyilu: Wo zhidao de Zhongguo zuqiu (The Chinese Football under My Understanding: the Reminiscences of Wang Junsheng) (Beijing: Beijing Press, 2002), pp. 44–45Google Scholar.

49 Ibid. pp. 45–47.

50 Yuan, Weimin, Zhongguo zuqiu dadian (China Football Encyclopedia) (Shanghai: Huadong Normal University Press, 2002), p. 35Google Scholar.

51 Interview with a senior official in the CFA Comprehensive Department, 19 January 2006.

52 Interview with a senior official in the GAS Personnel Department, 12 January 2006.

53 Weimin Yuan, China Football Encyclopedia, p. 299.

54 Wang, Junsheng, “1997 nian Zhongguo zuxie gongzuo zongjie ji 1998 nian gongzuo jihua” (“The annual summary of CFA's work in 1997 and the CFA's annual project in 1998”), Zhongguo zuqiu shiye nianjian (Chinese Football Year Book 1992–1998) (Beijing: Xinhua chubanshe, 2000), p. 100Google Scholar.

55 CFA, “Zhongguo zuxie yundongyuan shenfen ji zhuanhui guiding (2002)” (“The CFA regulation for the transfer of football players in 2002”), in CFA (eds.), Zhongguo zuqiu liansai gongzuo shouce (The Handbook of Chinese Football Competition) (Beijing: CFA, 2002), p. 195Google Scholar; CFA, Zhongguo zuxie yundongyuanshenfen ji zhuanhui guiding (2006) (The CFA Regulation for the Transfer of Football Players in 2006) (Beijing: CFA, 2006)Google Scholar.

56 GAS, “Tiyu chanye ‘shiyiwu’ guihua” (“The project for sport industry 2006–2010”), Tiyuzongju guanfang wangzhan (GAS Official Websites), 12 March 2007, http://www.sport.gov.cn/n16/n1077/n1452/n31718/155078.html, accessed on 25 July 2009.

57 Sohu Sport News, “Guonei zutan youxian liuyang gaochao Zhongguojiao chuzhong butong yuanyin yousan” (“Three main reasons behind the high tide for domestic footballers transferring abroad”), Shou tiyu wang (Sohu Sport News), 21 July 2009, http://sports.sohu.com/20090721/n265378085.shtml, accessed on 25 July 2009.

58 Junsheng Wang, The Chinese Football under My Understanding, p. 220.

59 GAS, “Zhongguo zuqiu shiye 2003–2012 nian fazhan guihua” (“The ten-year development project for Chinese football (2003–2012)”), in GAS (eds.), Zhongguo tiyu nianjian (China Sport Year Book (2004)) 24 (Beijing: The Press of China Sport Year Book, 2004), p. 113Google Scholar.

60 Li, Tieying, “Tieying Li zai quanguo tiwei zhuren huiyishang de jianghua” (“The lecture of state councillor Li Tieying for 1993 all states sports minister conference”), in NSC (eds.), Tiyugaige wenjian xuanbian (The Selected Compilation of Chinese Reform Document of Sport (1992–1995)) (internal document) (Beijing: NSC, 1996), pp. 5–6Google Scholar.

61 NSC, “Guojia tiwei guanyu shenhua tiyu gaige di yijian” (“The suggestion of NSC on deepening the reform of sport”), The Selected Compilation of Chinese Reform Document of Sport (1992–1995), p. 152.

62 NSC, “Guanyu peiyang tiyu shichang ji jiasu tiyu chanyehua jincheng di yijian” (“Suggestions in relation to promoting sport marketing and speeding up the process of sport industralization”), The Selected Compilation of Chinese Reform Document of Sport (1992–1995), p. 179.

63 Interview with a senior official in the CFA Comprehensive Department, 19 January 2006.

64 Junsheng Wang, The Chinese Football under My Understanding, p. 118.

65 The top two levels of Chinese football league were known as Jia A League and Jia B League respectively. Jia A was rebranded as CSL and Jia B was rebranded as the current Jia League in 2004. Promotion and relegation take place between the CSL and the second-tier Jia League.

66 Junsheng Wang, The Chinese Football under My Understanding, pp. 320–21.

67 CFA, “Guanyu jiaji zuqiu julebu shishi ‘liang zheng yi shu’ zhidu di zhanxing guiding” (“About the temporary regulation for carrying out the policy of ‘one protocol and two licences’ in Jia A & Jia B clubs”), in The Handbook of Chinese Football Competition, pp. 19–21.

68 CFA, “Zhongguo zuxie guanyu quanguoxing zuqiu saishi shangwu guanli zhanxing guiding” (“The temporary commercial regulation of national football matches”), in ibid. p. 235.

69 CFA, “Jiaji zuqiu liansai zerenshu” (“Protocol for Jia A and Jia B”), in ibid. pp. 23–28.

70 CFA, “About the temporary regulation for carrying out the policy of ‘one protocol and two licences’,” pp. 19–21.

71 Interview with a senior manager in the Beijing Guoan Football Club, 6 January 2006.

72 CFA, Zhongchao liansai youxian zeren gongsi zhangcheng (The Regulation of The China Football Association Super League Company) (Beijing: CFA, 2005), p. 4Google Scholar.

73 Interview with a senior official in the CFA financial office, 19 January 2006.

74 Nan Zhang, “Zhongchao gongsi chengli Nan Yong ren dongshizhang futebao fuzong ren zongjingli” (“CSLC was established and Nan Yong became the first chairman”), Xinhua News, 29 December 2005, http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2005-12/29/content_3983303.htm, accessed on 29 December 2005.

75 Wu, Shouzhang, Xing yu si: Shishi aoyun zhanlüe de lishi henji (Think and Practice: the History of the Olympic Strategy) (Beijing: Beijing Sport University Press, 2001), p. 72Google Scholar.

76 Ibid. p. 72.

77 Ibid. p. 239.

78 Interview with a senior official in the CF A Technical Department, 16 January 2006.

79 Fei Teng, “Guoao quan fengbi xunlian bu xuyao dongyuan zongju mingling junxun wutiaojian zhichi” (“The GAS instructed the Olympic football squad to start self-contained training in the style of military training”), Sina News, 27 November 2007, http://sports.sina.com.cn/n/2007-11-27/11573321503.shtml, accessed on 27 November 2007.

80 Peng Liu, “Guojia tiyu zongju juzhang Liu Peng zai 2006 nian quanguo tiyu juzhang huiyi shang de jianghua” (“The lecture of sport minister Peng Liu for 2006 all states sports minister conference”), GAS website, 19 January 2006, http://www.sport.gov.cn/n16/n1077/n1392/n40798/n40828/143203.html, accessed on 19 January 2006; and Peng Liu, “Guojia tiyu zongju juzhang Liu Peng zai 2009 nian quanguo tiyu juzhang huiyi shang de jianghua” (“The lecture of sport minister Peng Liu for 2009 all states sports minister conference”), GAS website, 20 January 2009, http://www.sport.gov.cn/n16/n1077/n1392/n1028434/n1028459/1031325.html, accessed on 25 July 2009.

81 Ohmae, The End of the Nation State, p. 64.

82 Gilpin, Global Political Economy.

83 Vogel, Freer Markets, More Rules, p. 19.

84 Hirst and Thompson, Globalisation in Question, p. 180.

85 Horne, John and Manzenreiter, Wolfram, “Football, culture, globalisation. Why professional football has been going East,” in Manzenreiter, W. and Horne, J. (eds.), Football Goes East. Business, Culture and the People's Game in China, Japan and South Korea (New York and London: Routledge, 2004), p. 14Google Scholar.

86 Jacques, Martin, When China Rules the World: the Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World (London: Allen Lane, 2009)Google Scholar.