Sociology of sports organizations: a general perspective, limits and views in France

Abstract

This article intends to take stock of the sociology of sports organizations in France since the first works that appeared on the subject in the 1980s. Although its development coincides with the professionalization of a sector that had long been state-run and institutionalized, three axes of development can be identified that are focused on interest groups, governance, and configurations. This paper will then discuss the operational limits of this discipline and give its prospects for development.

Keywords:

• sociology of organizations
• professionalization of sport
• typology of sports organizations
• interest groups
• sport governance
• operational limits

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We can note that this difficulty in positioning oneself in a field that crosses problems of a pluralism of scientific disciplines and postures, concerns the whole of the sociology of ­organizations [see Balle 1990]. We will come back later.