Sociology of sport in the balance: Critical reflections on some recent and more enduring trends

Abstract

In his book Sociology in the Balance, the Dutch sociologist Johan Goudsblom attempted an overview of the development of sociology as a whole. This essay sets out ot provide a similar stocktaking of the sociology of sport. Its objectives are threefold: to mark any advances in knowledge which have been mae in the field in the century which recently drew to a close; toprovide a guide to the principal conflicts and difficulties which have arisen in the field; and to scholars to some of the mistakes that have been made and some of the recipes that been advocated for avoiding them.