This book adds a new dimension to our understanding of the global esports industry by examining its significance in the context of global geopolitics and economics.
As perhaps the most rapidly growing sector of the sports and entertainment industry worldwide, esport is now both a glittering prize and a powerful tool for sporting organisations, international business, and national and regional governments, and this book critically examines its transformative potential and structural complexities. Presenting a series of contemporary case studies alongside evidence-based analysis, the book examines how esports intersect with global economic, political, cultural, and organisational dynamics. This book moves beyond abstract theories to provide powerful insights, from both industry professionals and academics, into the roles and functions of esports within global power structures. It explores key themes in geopolitical economy - including global economic interests, soft power, cultural diplomacy, organisational strategy, and socio-political dynamics – and in sport and gaming studies, including the rapid development of esports in the MENA region, driven by strategic investment from countries like Saudi Arabia; the current dominance of esports in North America and Asia founded on more advanced ecosystems, innovation and leadership; and regulatory and cultural debates in Europe.
Showcasing cutting-edge research and the most important current debates, topics and issues, this book is essential reading for anybody with an interest in esports, gaming, the politics or economics of sport, geopolitics, diplomacy or international business.
This book adds a new dimension to our understanding of the global esports industry by examining its significance in the context of global geopolitics and economics.
1. Introduction Part I: The Geopolitical Economy of Esports
2. The
Geopolitical Economy of Esports: Where Commercial Interests and Public Policy
Converge in a New Emerging Landscape
3. E-sports and Economic Development: An
Emerging Industry
4. Concentration and Control of Organized Esports:
E-Dominance
5. Geopolitical Influences on Esports Finances
6. Esports
Alongside Olympic Values
7. The IOCs Youth Quest and Chinas eSports Power
Play: A Big Top-Down
8. Nation Branding, Esports Diplomacy and the Olympic
Movement
9. Football Clubs and Esports: A Global Strategy for Cultural and
Media Expansion
10. Real Cycling in a Virtual World: Zwift
11. Esports
Mercenaries and their Role as Stateless Economic Agents Part II: China
12.
Chinas Esports Ecosystem: The Geopolitical Implications of a Growing
Industry
13. China and E-sports in the Global South: From Corporate Actions
to Geopolitical and Economic Cooperation?
14. The Marginal-Mainstream
Transition of Esports in China: A Government Perspective
15. Nationalism and
Cultural Conflicts Among Chinese Esports Fans Supporting Foreign Players:
Clash of Loyalties
16. Gaming as a Cultural Export: Exploring the Global
Success of Chinese Games
17. The Reasons, Responses, Results and
Recommendations of the Gaming Time Limit Policy in China: A 70-year-old
Grandma Gets a Pentakill in the Rift at Midnight Part III: Saudi Arabia
18.
Saudi Arabia's Integrated Influence Strategy in Global Esports: Beyond Soft
Power
19. Saudi Arabias Esports Revolution: Sports, Tech-Diplomacy and
Nation Branding to Build a New Global Power
20. Hosting the Future of the
Olympic Games: Saudi Kingdom or Esports Kingdom?
21. Exploring the Esports
Ecosystem in Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco: Gaming Across Borders
22.
Saudi Arabia's Sponsorship and Engagement in UK and European Esports
Organisations Part IV: Asia
23. Esports and National Ambitions in the Middle
East: Leveling Up
24. Strategic Initiatives in Gaming and Esports: The UAE's
Digital Playground
25. The Sociopolitical and Psychological Landscape of
Iranian Women in Esports: Controllers and Stereotypes
26. The Evolution and
Business of Esports in India
27. The Geopolitical Economy of Esports in India
28. Rise of Indian Esports: Nationalist Identity and Geopolitical Vision at
Play
29. Singapores Role in the Global Esports Race: Game On
30. Governance
and Gaming: The Case of Singapores Esports Academy
31. Systemic Esports
Development in South Korea: Paving the Way for Faker and Other Elite
Players
32. Vietnamese Esports in Transition: From Grassroots to National
Strategy in a Geopolitical Arena
33. Overcoming Invisible Cultural Barriers
to Esports Development: Japans Next Quest Part V: Europe and the Rest of the
World
34. Strategic Partnerships and Alliances in Esports in Europe and Their
Geopolitical Implications
35. The Symbolic Value of Esports Megaevents: A
London and League of Legends Worlds Case Study
36. The Rise of Amateur
Esports and the Role of Education in Britain
37. Esports Wales and the Value
of Localisation to Power International Success
38. The Role of Esports as a
Tool of Public Diplomacy: Opportunities for Brazil on the Global Stage
39.
The Socio-cultural and Economic Dynamics of the Emergence of Esport in
Zimbabwe
40. Esports and International Sanctions: An Overview of Measures and
Responses on Russian Esports
Simon Chadwick is Professor of AfroEurasian Sport at Emlyon Business School, China.
Yue Meng-Lewis is Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Digital Marketing at the Open University, UK.
Donna Wong is Senior Lecturer in Sport Management at Keele University, UK.
Paul Widdop is Reader in Sport Business at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
