‘Amateurism’ as a Sociological Problem: Some Reflections Inspired by Eric Dunning

Abstract

This essay revisits ‘amateurism’ as a sociological problem. The essay starts with a general overview of the social and cultural conditions which led to the emergence of amateurism in western sport as an ethos or social philosophy, a set of social, organizational and cultural practices, and as a broad social movement. I then explore a range of significant contradictions within amateurism both as an ideal and as a more concrete organizing principle in sport and examine the international export of amateurism, especially via amateurism's incorporation into the Olympic ‘movement’ in the early twentieth century. The essay concludes with a discussion of how the early ideal of amateurism became unsustainable, not only within the Olympic movement, but within western sport more broadly.