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Journals / ODÜ SOSYAL BİLİMLER ARAŞTIRMALARI DERGİSİ-ODÜSOBİAD / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 3

From traditional entertainment to modern sport: Elias, the process of civilization and sportification

Geleneksel eğlenceden modern spora: Elias, uygarlaşma süreci ve sportizasyon

Orhan Bingöl(Sinop Üniversitesi)0009-0007-2510-9415
Ayhan Dever(ORDU ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-8300-5290
Ercüment Erdoğan(ORDU ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-4544-2211
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-08-12
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This discussion also invites a re-examination of the extent to which Elias's Theory of Civilization holds validity in both everyday life and the modernization process.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study is primarily guided by Norbert Elias's Theory of Civilization; accordingly, it examines the historical-sociological foundations of the sportification process and explains the emergence of modern sport.
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Key Findings & Data:The adoption of the Cambridge Rules (1848) represents the establishment of the Football Association in 1863, the recognition of professionalism in football, and the institutional stages of the transformation that took place.
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Conclusion & Impact:This discussion also invites a re-examination of the extent to which Elias's Theory of Civilization holds validity in both everyday life and the modernization process.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Norbert Elias · Spor Sosyolojisi · Uygarlaşma Teorisi

Abstract

This study is primarily guided by Norbert Elias's Theory of Civilization; accordingly, it examines the historical-sociological foundations of the sportification process and explains the emergence of modern sport. Drawing on Elias and Dunning's concept of 'sportification,' the article examines how long-term transformations such as the limitation of violence, the control of emotions, and the rationalization of social relations have also transformed traditional game forms into modern sports. In this context, the study specifically draws attention to how violent and ritualistic Shrovetide and folk football practices in England have evolved over time into regulated, supervised, and institutionalized forms of football. The adoption of the Cambridge Rules (1848) represents the establishment of the Football Association in 1863, the recognition of professionalism in football, and the institutional stages of the transformation that took place. The data obtained in this context show that sportification points to much more than a technical adaptation process; modern sport emerges as a reflection of the self-regulation, discipline, regulation, and standardization processes specific to modern societies. Therefore, this study discusses the unique role of sport in modernization and social transformation processes within the context of figurative sociology. This discussion also invites a re-examination of the extent to which Elias's Theory of Civilization holds validity in both everyday life and the modernization process.

Özet

Bu çalışma, temel olarak Norbert Elias’ın Uygarlaşma Teorisi rehberliğinde yol almakta; buna göre sportizasyon sürecinin tarihsel-sosyolojik temellerini inceleyerek modern sporun ortaya çıkışını açıklamaktadır. Makalede Elias ve Dunning’in geliştirdiği ‘sportizasyon’ kavramından hareketle şiddetin sınırlanması, duyguların denetimi ve toplumsal ilişkilerin rasyonelleşmesi gibi uzun erimli dönüşümlerin aynı zamanda geleneksel oyun biçimlerini modern sporlara nasıl dönüştürdüğüne de bakılmaktadır. Bu çerçevede çalışma özellikle İngiltere’deki şiddet içerikli ve ritüel nitelikteki Shrovetide ve halk futbolu uygulamalarının zaman içerisinde kurallı, gözetimli ve kurumsallaşmış futbol biçimlerine evrilmesine dikkat çekmektedir. Öyle ki Cambridge Kuralları’nın (1848) kabulü 1863’te Futbol Association’ın kurulmasını, futbolda profesyonelliğin tanınmasını ve yaşanan dönüşümün kurumsal aşamalarını temsil etmektedir. Bu doğrultuda elde edilen veriler, sportizasyonun teknik bir uyarlama sürecinden çok daha fazlasına işaret ettiğini; modern sporun modern toplumlara özgü özdenetim, disiplin, düzenleme ve standartlaşma süreçlerinin bir yansıması olarak ortaya çıktığını göstermektedir. Dolayısıyla çalışma, modernleşme ve toplumsal dönüşüm süreçlerinde sporun sahip olduğu özgün rolünü figürasyonel sosyoloji bağlamında tartışmaktadır. Söz konusu tartışma aynı zamanda Elias’ın Uygarlaşma Teorisinin hem gündelik yaşam hem de modernleşme sürecinde hangi bakımlardan geçerlilik taşıdığını yeniden sorgulamaya davet etmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Bingöl, O., Dever, A., Erdoğan, E. (2026). From traditional entertainment to modern sport: Elias, the process of civilization and sportification. ODÜ SOSYAL BİLİMLER ARAŞTIRMALARI DERGİSİ-ODÜSOBİAD, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 3. https://doi.org/10.48146/odusobiad.1874158

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