Dr Seth Perkin
Lecturer
My profile
Biography
Seth is a sociologist that specializes in the study of sport. His research has focused on the construction of disability outside of Western contexts and the tensions that exist within international power structures in the management of sport and policy.
Seth’s research has been centered on the study of sport in the Middle East, with specific focus on the United Arab Emirates, its growing relationship with sport and its increasingly close ties with the International Paralympic Committee. This research has revealed the ways in which the Untied Arab Emirates have utilised sport to increase its political and economic security. Seth has also examined the ways in which other states such as Costa Rica, Hungary, Moldova and Qatar have made use of sport to strengthen their international position through various social, political, cultural and economic goals. He has also, with colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University contributed to research on the Rugby Football League’s inclusivity initiatives.
His research has been published in a number of outlets and is co-author of the upcoming book Big Games: small state politics and global sport’ (Palgrave, 2024).
Seth is also a qualified motorcycle Speedway referee and is currently the youngest member on the Speedway Control Bureau’s panel of referees.
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Perkin, S.J., Howe, P.D. (2022) 'Understanding the Cultural Landscape of Sport in the United Arab Emirates.' In Reiche, D., Brannagan, P.M. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East.
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Reports
Scelles, N., Inoue, Y., Perkin, S., Valenti, M. (2022) The Disability Rugby League Dividend.
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Journal articles
Brannagan, P., Scelles, N., Valenti, M., Inoue, Y., Grix, J., Perkin, S. (2022) 'The 2021 European Super League Attempt: motivation, outcome, and the future of football.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 14(1) pp. 169-176.
Perkin, S.J., Howe, P.D. (2018) 'A Foucauldian Interpretation of Paralympic Sport in the United Arab Emirates: An Exploration Through a Virtual Lens.' International Journal of the History of Sport, 34(13) pp. 1418-1435.
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Conference papers
Perkin, S., Howe, P.D. (2023) 'The influence of non-state actors on sovereign states: An analysis of the International Paralympic Committee and the United Arab Emirates.' In 14th Annual Conference of the PSA Sport & Politics Specialist Group. Manchester, UK, 23/3/2023 - 24/3/2023.
Brannagan, P., Perkin, S. (2022) 'Small State Strategies through Global Sport: The Case of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.' In (Il)liberal Nation Projection Through Sport, Culture, Entertainment, and International Broadcasting. University of Manchester, 20/10/2022 - 21/10/2022.
Perkin, S., Howe, P.D. (2016) 'Tensions and Transformations: an ethnographic account of disability sport in the United Arab Emirates..' In ISSA World Congress of Sociology of Sport. Taoyuan City, Taiwan, 30/5/2017 - 2/6/2017.
Perkin, S., Howe, P.D. (2016) 'Arab Culture and the Paralympic movement: The case of the United Arab Emirates.' In The Arab Countries & The Olympic Games. Boston: MA, 24/6/2016 - 25/6/2016.
Career history
2019-Present
Lecturer - Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University
2018-2019
Tutor - Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University
2017-2018
Lecturer - Nottingham Trent University
2015-2018
University Teacher - Loughborough University
2014
Visiting Lecturer - St Mary’s University
Press and media
‘Today Programme’ BBC Radio 4 - 17th June 2023
‘UAE’s Sports Diplomacy Push Takes Different Tack from GCC Pack’ Middle East Institute - Singapore 12th June 2023
‘Hård kritik af stor dansk Counter Strike-turnering i Abu Dhabi: “Det ser suspekt ud”’ Frihedsbrevet (Danish Media Outlet) 14th December 2022
‘Het WK: een diplomatieke goudmijn waar Qatar (politieke) vrienden maakt’ Trouw (Dutch Newspaper) 9th December 2022