|  | Current Issues | No.51 September 2007 |

Sport and Peace Building Pelle Kvalsund |
For decades, the nature of sports and intrinsic values have been questioned. In 1970’s George Orwell stated that "Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words: it is war minus the shooting." At the same time sport evangelists started preaching that sport offered more than a temporary haven for the suspension of conflict. For this group sport, locally and globally, can solve those problems that politicians and militaries palpably cannot. “…if sport was good for them… it must be good for others...” With 2005 recognized as the International Year of Sport and Physical Education, the added value of sport as a peace building factor was given almost unanimous recognition by the international development community. The United Nations regards sport as an effective tool and a strong unifying factor in the process of conflict transformation and peace building. This has, for instance, led to the use of sport-related activities as an integral part of nation building and to foster goodwill within local communities by a number of UN peacekeeping missions worldwide. Not only has sport been recognized as a powerful apparatus, but the fundamental values of sport and play have been acknowledged as very important elements in the building of a strong civil society and states where tolerance and friendship is being built. More than a conflict transforming tool, sport has been granted the potential as a conflict-prevention measure, helping forestall processes that generate aggression, hatred and fear. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the use of sport as a tool in peace building. As one of the sport evangelists and firm believers of sports potential, I will try to illustrate some of sports’ facilitating powers, moving beyond just bringing people together, mixing teams and interacting in a friendly environment. To better understand sports’ potential, I aim to scrutinize some of the different aspects in conflict generation and peace building, and try to identify areas where sport can influence the process. With sport being recognized as such a powerful tool, this paper also aim to create awareness of the responsibility we as stakeholders in sport and development have while implementing sport and peace programs. We are obliged to not only understand the potential and the risks of using sport in peace-building processes, but also to see the limitations and to critically reflect on the impact sport might or might-not have in each individual case. The negative impacts which a sport program can have on Peace Building must be taken into account in order to integrate conflict preventive measures in an effective and honest manner. Sport does not primarily aim to prevent conflict. On the contrary, it initiates conflict. All sport is based on healthy competition against opponents trying to reach a similar goal. Sport is on the other hand trying to facilitate constructive conflict in a peaceful form, accepting the fact that there have to winners and losers. 1. Understanding Conflict In order for us to better assess the use of sport as a peace building tool, we have to gain understanding into the nature of the antagonism and conflict in the various cultural and geographical areas we choose to work. It is also advantageous for us to reflect upon some common values and principles that seem to guide most sport and development projects working to address conflict prior to program implementation. Defining conflict: “War and conflict can be defined as contest between groups of people based on perceived opponent needs, ideas, beliefs, values or goals”. A balanced level of conflict is not only healthy, but also needed in order for us to craft change and development. Conflict is always difficult but often ends with a positive solution. The negative sense of conflict is violence. This has many forms and shapes from personal disagreements, inner-city gang crime and ethnical conflicts to fully fledged clashes and war between countries. These conflicts have a broad impact on society and a number of innocent bystanders usually become targets and victims. War and violently performed conflict breaks down communication and erects barriers for interaction between people. The social unity between people is often disturbed and neighbors and friends become rivals and enemies based on identities like for example, ethnicity and religion. Propaganda is often used to maintain the image of an enemy and prolong and increase the division between the people involved. There are numerous examples of sport (and football in particular) actively been used as a tool to create and to add fuel to conflicts, e.g. Balkans, South America, England. Conflicts are never one-sided and one can never point at a single reason why conflict escalates to clashes or acts of hostilities. There is therefore no one response or method for conflict transformation, peace building or reconciliation. The more we understand about the complexity of a conflict’s nature, its parties, history and cultural settings, the better we can craft activities adapted for and suitable to the various situations. Even though no conflicts are identical, factors like reduced communication and movement, increased perception differences as well as increased stress and uncertainty, limited resources and services, and reduced safety are often common limitations and outcomes. Table 1 - Some aspects influencing decisions to act and partake in a violently performed conflict
Conflict factor | Explanation | Examples
Instability, scrimmage for resources and desperation | Self-preservation is one of the primary forces in life. If basic needs are not covered and safety not secured, aggressive acts of desperation becomes more frequent and “legitimate”. |
Division of people based on collective identitiesDistance in relationships - collective pressure | Group belonging (e.g. ethnicity, religion, culture) and collectivism is in many cultures stronger than individuality and personal relationships. As much as this is a positive thing it can be a strong decisive factor for aggression against other groups when resources are scare or unequally distributed between people. The theory that it is harder to act in violence towards someone you have close personal bonds with does not hold in extreme situations.On the positive side, all wars have shown tremendous acts of human compassion across ethnic and conflicting barriers. Even in the bloodiest conflicts people have sacrificed their own safety to help people on the “conflicting” side. | Ethnic cleansing in Balkans and Rwanda.
Hierarchical structures | In cultures and structures with strong hierarchal systems, control mechanisms like misinformation is easier spread and used to create and uphold conflicts.Building of a strong civil society, with open access to communication and interaction. This makes it more difficult to spread propaganda and to have a totalitarian control of the population. | In Burma the regime successfully managed to put the different groups up against each other by controlling information and using it.
Lawlessness | International law seems to have very limited consequence and impact on people’s decisions of acting in extreme aggression. Chaotic situations might erase rational judgment. |
Damage of mental health | Use of child soldiers, rape and terror are commonly used techniques to traumatize, degrade and break down people’s mental health. When the mind is broken people are capable to do anything. | Sierra Leone – mutilation and systematic amputations.
Two common values that seem to guide sport program implementation are particularly interesting to dwell upon, Human Rights and Democracy. The 1993 world conference of human rights concluded that democracy, development and respect of human rights are interdependent, and might mutually reinforce and strengthen peace building processes. Defining democracy: “..Government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections..” (Webster Dictionary) Priorities should therefore be given to work in these areas. Building of democratic principles is lengthy, multifaceted and complex. It includes processes that build civil society and put in place self-governing mechanisms based on agreed upon and culturally accepted regulations. Democracy is also hard to measure as it might incite dissimilar understandings in different cultures. Sport can, by establishing self governing clubs, leagues and structures based on the above criteria, actively participate in the democratization process by strengthening civil society and thus become one of the building blocks for a more stabile and peaceful state. Some of the challenges aforementioned in regards to democracy also are true for human rights. Though the Universal Declaration for Human Rights has been signed by most of the United Nations’ member states, violations are common, and the question of the validity of the declaration is sometimes challenged. Both Democracy and Human Rights are therefore at times viewed as a western ideal and as a consequence, the imposition of such rights on non-western nations is seen as a form of cultural imperialism. This might challenge sport projects that actively promote HR through its activities in certain parts of the world. As we adapt these values and principles into our programs or sport activities, it is necessary for us to reflect on what this means in practical terms. 2. Why sport? Sport is indisputably the most popular leisure activity in the world, not only for children and youth, but for men and women as players, coaches, leaders, administrators and spectators. Even though the intrinsic values and inherent qualities in sport and play lie entirely in how participation in the activity is experienced and perceived, play is a natural part of people’s physical, mental and social development and growth. The popularity of sport and games among children and youth and the widespread acceptance of sport and games by parents, make sport a low entry point for social change. Projects can be labeled as leisure activities and bring about a change of attitudes and behavior. It depends how you play. This is the reason why appropriate training of coaches is so crucial. Sport can be a low entry point for persons who are skeptical about peace and social cohesion. “Just play for fun!” helps to integrate persons who would never ever participate in activities labeled “sport for peace with Tamils/Serbs/Hutus”. Sport and games allow therefore work with the critical voices or even with persons who are against intercultural dialogue and nonviolent conflict transformation. Sport and games integrate important parts of the human being, which often get forgotten in peace building: the body and its emotions. Sustainable conflict transformation means that you address also the participant’s feelings. Sport and games offer the space for joy, fun, creativity and happiness, but also for rage, sadness and frustration. The latter emotions can be worked on by the coach (if necessary) and be transformed. The power comes with its popularity, and the effect and impact comes with its implementation. By focusing on conflicting parties’ mutual interests rather than using the problems as starting points for intervention, sport activities can create safe spaces for interaction where communication can be restored and understanding and tolerance can be built, provided we have acquired adequate knowledge of the situation. Some guiding principles when working with sport and peace building are: Understand the conflict and the culture where the conflict takes place Base the activities on commonalities and mutual interests/identity Base the activities on local premises, situations and resources Use of Peer educators to ensure openness and interaction rather than teachers-student and a top-down approach Be conscious of the distribution of services across conflicting lines. A one sided support might spawn conflict rather than reduce it. Know how to handle immediate conflicts within the group Know how to handle differences in groups and how to perceive them as an asset Observe; Look, listen and learn 3. Sport as part of the peace building factors Peace building covers a range of activities designed to reconstruct the social, economic and legal fabric of a society following a conflict. Many NGOs are active in different sectors trying to build a stronger society on fragile peace accords. These organizations work in all areas of peace building including enhancing security, trying to address poverty, building infrastructure and strengthening the political framework. I will, in this part of the paper, look at the different factors influencing the peace building process and try to identify and illustrate some of the potential areas where sport might be of influence, or be a piece in the puzzle. Security Even though peace building efforts should start early (also during conflict), basic security of people involved in the programs must be provided. Governments are responsible for demobilizing former combatants, but it is often the NGOs that are instrumental in re-integrating these former soldiers into society, clearing mines and establishing programs for handing over weapons and small arms so that they are not circulated to criminal elements, fuelling insecurity. The reintroduction of child soldiers back into the community is a long, difficult and sometimes unsuccessful process and many ex-combatants get lost on the way. It requires community-based rehabilitation projects, which enable former child soldiers to obtain education, to address the trauma of the conflict years and to create opportunities for an alternative to military life. Rebuilding economies The reconstruction of socio-economic foundations and a functioning political framework complement security. The physical reconstruction of cities, development of healthcare, education, water provision, electricity, roads, livestock and crop production all need to function for a country to get back on its feet and return to some kind of normality. Political framework Democratization, re-installing the rule of law, building institutions and ensuring that human rights are being safeguarded systemically are other aspects that the UN and NGOs focus upon to strengthen a society emerging from upheaval. Reconciling torn societies How to bring about some form of reconciliation and healing in a society which has witnessed genocide, widespread rape, torture or systematic limb amputation is a problem with no easy answer, not least when the preconditions to violent conflict may still be present and unchanged. Practitioners of transitional justice advocate a holistic approach to the issue, including: Criminal prosecutions Truth commissions to uncover what occurred and to give the victims a voice Financial reparations for those who have suffered violations Reform of state institutions to root out those who were involved in the human rights abuses Meaningful dialogue between various parties including victims’ groups. Reconciliation is also about finding a sense of belonging and about reaching unity and harmony based on commonality greater than the forces that divide and separate people. Where does sport fit in? The table below shows the ways in which sport can contribute at specific stages during the peace-building process.
Factor: | Issues: | How can sport contribute?
| Demobilisation and stabilisation |
| Reintegration of child soldiers and ex-combatants | Sport may help those who have been involved in military conflicts by drawing them out of the routines of violence and towards more rule-governed and socially acceptable patterns of behaviour. Consider, for example, the case of former child soldiers in West Africa: sports participation may assist in bringing these groups out of a social existence in which violence and terror are a part of day-to-day experience, and into patterns of social relationship in which personal initiative and collective endeavour are rewarded in peaceful and socially accepted ways.
Rebuilding economies | Construction of socio-economic foundations and a functioning political framework |
| Physical reconstruction of cities, roads, water provision, electricity, etc | Reconstruction of open sport facilities where people can meet and play has been recognized as an important and early step in the normalization process
| Education and/or vocational training |
| Livestock, crop production and employment/income generation |
| Access to other social benefits e.g. pensions and social services |
Rebuilding mental health of traumatised populations | Healthcare - Trauma treatment for men, women and children (rape victims, etc) | The very process of participation in sport may also have a personally therapeutic and publicly engaging function with regards to assisting the emotional and social rehabilitation of these traumatized individuals(Giulianotti 2005) Even though there is limited evidence of the impact sport has to overcome trauma, it is believed that participation in sport can have a positive effect (Wolters, 1998).
Political framework | Democratisation | Working with, and if necessary, supporting the transformation of national sport bodies e.g. Ministries of Sport, Sport Commissions and Councils, and Olympic Committees
| Re-installing the rule of law | Sports are founded upon specific laws that regulate play, thereby ensuring that participants must behave in a rule-governed way.
| Building institutions and a strong civil society | Establishment of sport clubs, teams and league systems based on democratic processes and clear and agreed upon rules and regulations of involvement contributes not only to building civil society, but to foster recognition of acts and laws by the participants
Communication-lines and access to information | Access to information e.g. radio, TV, internet and telephone |
| Reestablish means of communication and free movement |
Reconciling torn societies | Criminal prosecutions | Sport can act as a unifying tool and a buffer for conflict. It can help build relations, bridge division between groups and create unity and tolerance.
| Truth commissions to uncover what occurred and to give the victims a voice | Sport and game activities can create the necessary space through confidence to discuss after several months about problems in the family or school emerging from the war. The coach can become a confidant of children and youth and therefore empower them.
| Financial reparations for those who have suffered egregious violations e.g. Repossession of property and reconstruction assistance | Equal access to resources, activities and assistance regardless of collective belonging is a key factor.
| Reform of state institutions to root out those who were involved in the human rights abuses |
| Meaningful dialogue between various parties including victims’ groups. | Sport can be used as an important pedagogical forum for peace-building and reconciliation. During or after the playing of sports, participants can engage in talks or educational programmes regarding the benefits of social integration, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence e.g. Cross boarder sport projects where people from conflicting sides come together and focus on commonalities rather than guilt and problems.
Table 2 - Peace Building Factors and contribution of Sport Gender issues: A UNHCR study found that three factors influence the ability of war-affected women to return and effectively engage in reconciliation processes: (a) lack of family or community support; (b) personal security; and (c) psychological trauma. For women whose trauma is associated with sexual violence, there is significant stigma as well as real risks of being re-traumatized and victimized upon return. Very few of the perpetrators have been arrested and prosecuted, and still live in their original municipalities (UNHCR, 2000). Women play a central role in all societies, but have a particularly important role in the reconciliation and re-establishment process. In many cultures, women are the family providers and breadwinners. After a conflict, in a reconstruction phase, where (most often) a large number of men have been killed and mutilated due to direct involvement, the women must take a lead in rebuilding entire communities. This includes support and empowerment for women partaking in sport programs as coaches, leaders, administrators and participants. Something women often are deprived of. It is important to stress that trauma work to a large extent focuses on women and children. Men are often perceived as the perpetrators or already dead as result of direct conflict, while much of the funding goes to trauma healing for the “classical trauma victims”. Powerful tool and responsibility Sport, being such a “powerful tool”, must leave the implementers with a huge responsibility. Sport, in its traditional form, is not a conflict preventative instrument. On the contrary, the nature of sport is exactly the opposite “a physical contest between people or teams with different goals”. For us to be able to effectively use sport as a peace building tool and to control the results and impact we must know what we are doing. The implementation and how sport is being preserved is the key, not sport alone. The balance between developing sport in its traditional form and using sport to achieve peaceful coexistence can only be managed by conscious and planned implementation, increased research, concept development and understanding and increased training of field implementers. As Dr. Robert Henley, Swiss Academy for Development (SAD, 2005) says, “there is a compelling need for more research in the area of sport and development, in order to validate that the psychological sport programs are truly being helpful for children and how.” I agree. References: S. Hayes & G. Stidder, Equity and inclusion in Physical Education and Sport, 2003 IRIN - Justice of a Lawless World, (www.irinnews.org), 2006 Richard Giulianotti, Sport: A Critical Sociology (Polity), 2005 Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2006 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 2000 IRIN - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Robert Henley, Swiss Academy for Development (SAD), 2005 Wolters, W.H.G., Sport en traumaverwerking, 1998 Contact Pelle Kvalsund Sport and Development Consultant Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF) Norway Email: pelle@sportsconsult.info Comments provided by John Telford Humanitarian Expert and Crisis Manager Former Senior UN Staff Email: telford@wanadoo.fr Maurizio Maggetti Project Officer Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) Email: maggetti@sad.ch Usha Selvaraju Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) Email: selvaraju@sad.ch http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 Sport and Peace Building Pelle Kvalsund