Bridging social capital through sports: an explorative study on (improving) inter-ethnic contact at two soccer clubs in the Netherlands

Abstract

46% (n=69) 38% (n=130) VV De Meern 7.9 (n=378) 8.5 (n=292) 7.6 (n=378) 8.3 (n=292) 12% (n=378) 10% (n=292) Total 7.7 (n=301) 7.9 (n=369) 7.9 (n=301) 7.5 (n=369) 24% (n=302) 29% (n=345) * "Aggression in my soccer club for some players is a reason to stop playing soccer". Table 3: Scores given to interaction between ethnic minority groups and people of Dutch origin of Zwaluwen and VV De Meern.

Sport as a Means of Governing Social Integration: Discourses on Bridging and Bonding Social Relations

“…Following the challenges and problems of segregation throughout Western societies, often represented in media and policy articulation in relation to migration and the integration of minorities (Dahlstedt & Neergard, 2016), sport and leisure activities have been highlighted in social policy (as well as in scientific discourse) as an arena where social relations can be formed and social capital developed, in turn facilitating social inclusion and integration (Coalter, 2007;Collins & Haudenhuyse, 2015;Morgan, 2013;Spracklen, Long & Hylton, 2015;Verhagen & Boonstra, 2014). However, both the notions that sport and leisure activities are suitable means of promoting social relations and social capital (Coakley, 2011;Collins & Haudenhuyse, 2015) and that social capital leads to social integration (Blackshaw & Long, 2005), are contestable.…”

“…Although they emphasize bonding social capital, Verhagen and Boonstra (2014) underscore that participation in sport may also form an introduction to bridging relations in associations, with people in and around activities, when the social climate supports mutual and coequal social interaction. Similarly, Harvey, Lévesque and Donnelly (2007) stress that social capital development requires long-term involvement in activities in order for relations to develop and for networks to be established.…”

“…In recent decades, the discourse of social capital development and its perceived links to social integration -even with a particular focus on sport as a proxy for civil society -has gained significant recognition in social policy (Bailey, 2005;Coalter, 2007;Nicholson & Hoye, 2008;Verhagen & Boonstra, 2014;Vermeulen & Verweer, 2009). Blackshaw and Long (2005) explain this by spotlighting the normative communitarian discourse embedded within this particular theorization.…”

Immigration and Social Inclusion: Possibilities from School and Sports

“…An important part of the results of these investigations has indicated that sport is a favorable element for the contexts related to the phenomenon of immigration. In concrete terms, these studies show that sport cooperates positively with: (a) the acquisition of social and cultural capital [20][21][22][23]; (b) maintaining cultural identity and cohesion around it [64]; (c) the interaction between "culturally different" [18,[24][25][26]; and (d) the creation of intercultural networks [27].…”

“…The specific literature on this matter indicates that sport offers important possibilities for the contexts that present immigrant population, because it favors: (a) the acquisition of social and cultural capital [20][21][22][23]; (b) the maintaining of cultural identity and cohesion around it [10]; (c) the interaction between "culturally different" [18,[24][25][26]; and (d) the creation of intercultural…”