La politique de l'apolitisme. Sur l'autonomisation du champ sportif

Abstract

Politics of Apolitism. On the autonomization of sport's field Jacques Defrance Apolitical attitudes are characteristic features of sport's culture. «Apolitism», «neutralism», «pacifism», «third stream», «anti-parlementarism», constitute the different ways to withdraw from critical situations, controversies and political struggles. The meaning of these kinds of withdrawal, their extent, their strength, vary during the XXth century. They grow as the field of physical activities and sports gets more autonomy. They assert themselves in front of the strengthening of civic norms which require to involve oneself in public matters. Socio-historic analysis shows how this forms of distanciation can be coupled with forms of commitment into politics and sport, or can be contradicted by an historical situation which requires to take a stand.