Sociology of Sport and Southern Epistemology

The sociology of sport has developed through rich theoretical traditions and significant empirical contributions. Yet the production of sociological knowledge about sport remains marked by profound global asymmetries. Theories, concepts, and methodological frameworks originating in the Global North continue to dominate international knowledge circulation, while experiences, perspectives, and intellectual traditions from the Global South remain underrepresented.

This session invites theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions examining the relationships between sport sociology, knowledge production, and Southern epistemologies. It seeks to explore how scholars from different world regions contribute to rethinking the conceptual, methodological, and political foundations of the field in increasingly interconnected yet unequal global contexts.

We welcome papers addressing decolonial perspectives in sport studies, indigenous and local knowledges, knowledge circulation, epistemic inequality, academic dependency, linguistic hierarchies, alternative research traditions, and emerging theoretical innovations from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and other regions of the Global South.

The session aims to foster dialogue on the future of sport sociology and on how more plural, inclusive, and globally connected forms of knowledge production can contribute to the renewal of the field.

Keywords: Global South; decoloniality; epistemic justice; knowledge production; sport sociology