eSports diplomacy: towards a sustainable ‘gold rush’

Abstract

With a marked growth in the industry of esports, this paper examines the epistemological, ethical and operational challenges impacting esports. In exploring the available literature on the esports phenomena, it argues that the current ‘gold rush’ is unsustainable unless the problems of government interference, legitimacy, regulation and inequality within gaming culture are tackled by widening the study of esports. To manage the challenges confronting esports and recognise the potential benefits, this paper proposes that the theory of sports diplomacy be applied to esports. Doing so provides a better framework for understanding and tackling the challenges threatening the growth and legitimacy of esports.

Keywords:

• esports
• sports diplomacy
• diplomacy
• literature review

Acknowledgements

The authors of this paper would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions made through the research assistance of Shinae Haidley and Finn Robinsen.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.