Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Go.C., Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran
2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Go.C., Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran.
Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of designing a model for the role of religious institutions in reducing ethnic conflicts in sports. The background of the research lies in the growing ethnic tensions observed in certain sports events and the ineffectiveness of formal mechanisms in preventing and managing such conflicts—an issue that highlights the necessity of utilizing cultural and religious capacities to foster social cohesion. The study employed a qualitative approach based on the grounded theory method in its systematic form. The research population included sports managers, cultural officials, clergy members, local elders, referees, social experts, and media professionals within multi-ethnic contexts. Sampling was carried out purposefully and theoretically, resulting in a total of 20 semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were collected concurrently and analyzed through the constant comparative method in three stages: open, axial, and selective coding. Findings revealed that the causal conditions included the historical and identity-based nature of ethnic conflicts, weaknesses in governance and media structures, and the absence of effective religious models. The contextual conditions were identified across four dimensions: socio-cultural status, sports policies, the capacity of religious institutions, and the media environment. The intervening conditions included governmental will, the social legitimacy of religious institutions, the flexibility of sports organizations, and media dynamism. In response to these conditions, five main strategies were identified: activating religious capacities for interethnic dialogue, reforming cultural policy-making in sports, empowering sports institutions in diversity management, recreating unity-oriented media narratives, and establishing collaborative networks among religious, sports, and civil institutions.
Keywords
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