Professor Jonathan Grix
Head of Sport Policy Unit
My profile
Biography
Jonathan is a global leader in the field of sport and politics and has published widely on the politics of sports mega-events, governance and sports politics. He focuses in particular on why governments invest in sport and the rationale for hosting sports mega-events, leading a number of funded projects on the UK, Brazil, Russia, China, South Korea and emerging states. His work on the use of sports mega-events as part of states’ soft power strategies has been widely cited.
In addition to the above, Jonathan has also published on research methodology, including the highly successful ‘Foundations of Research’, which is in its 3rd edition and has been translated into a number of languages, most recently, Chinese.
Current projects include a study of Germany’s contribution to the development of modern sport and the politicization of sport. Jonathan’s 1st degree was in German and his PhD was on German politics.
At MMU, Jonathan has built up the Sport Policy Unit from just 4 members of staff in 2017 to 19 staff today. He was instrumental in growing the existing undergraduate programmes and introducing 2 MSc programmes (Sport Business, Management and Policy - 1 on campus, 1 online) and building a doctoral cohort of sports-related scholars.
Teaching
Why do I teach?
I believe in bringing world-class research into the classroom. I lecture on both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for sport. I run the Unit ‘Sport Policy and Politics’ on our flagship MSc in Sport Business, Management and Policy
Why study…
Sport and politics is one of the most interesting areas of study in society. Most people have strong opinions about both; when they come together, which is very often, the debates can be heated. The type of areas sport politics covers range from the politics of the Olympics (its hosting, its cost, its use as a political tool and the so-called legacy said to derive from investing in the event), government investment in sport (elite sport vs grassroots; school sport etc.) and the moral arguments around hosting key sporting events in states that have a poor record of upholding human rights.
Postgraduate teaching
Jonathan teaches across a number of PG units and leads on ‘Sport Policy and Politics’, an MSc level unit covering the key areas touched on in his monograph ‘Sport Politics’ (2015/6).
Subject areas
Sport Politics and Policy
Supervision
PhD Completions since starting at MMU (2017):
1. Hyungmin Kim. Sustainability of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics
2. Tom Bason. Every Loser Wins - Using a failed Olympic bid to leverage for positive outcomes
3. Nina Kramareva. An Analysis of Russia’s ‘Alternative’ Soft Power Strategy and National Identity Discourse via Sports Mega-Events
4. Bongsoo Kang - The ‘Elite-Mass Sport’ Problematic. Policy Learning from the UK, Norway and Australia.
5. Brian Jeong - The Use of Sports Mega-Events as Part of States’ Soft Power Strategies: An East Asia Analysis.
6. Louisa Hallas - The Impact of Modernisation on Sport Policy Delivery in the Home Countries
Current students where Jonathan is Director of Studies:
Mike Green - Promoting Physical Activity through Sport in the Community Programmes.
Daniel Gallant (Olympian project) - Critical Incidences and Athletic Performance.
Callum Jones (Olympian project) - Athlete Transition to a Post-Athletic Career.
Edgar Kuijper – An Analysis of the Rugby Football League World Cup Hosting Strategy (2021).
Research outputs
Jonathan is a leading expert in the field of sport politics and sport policy with a particular speciality on sports mega-events and soft power. He has published 7 monographs, 8 edited books and 5 Special Issues of leading journals. In addition, he has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and numerous chapters.
Currently Jonathan is leading a project based on the life history of GB Olympians, ably assisted by 2 PhD students, Dan Gallant and Callum Jones. To date we have interviewed almost 60 Olympians and have just started to write up the first findings from the research.
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Grix, J., Brannagan, P., Lee, D. (2019) Entering the Global Arena: Emerging States, Soft Power Strategies and Sports Mega-Events. Palgrave Macmillan.
Grix, J. (2019) The Foundations of Research. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Vieira, M., Grix, J. (2018) Challenges to Emerging and Established Powers Brazil, the United Kingdom and Global Order. Routledge.
Grix, J. (2018) Leveraging Mega-Event Legacies. Routledge.
Grix, J. (2017) Understanding UK Sport Policy in Context. Routledge.
Grix, J. (2015) Sport Politics An Introduction. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Grix, J., Dennis, M. (2012) Sport Under Communism: Behind the East German ‘Miracle’, (with M. Dennis). Macmillan, Palgrave.
Grix, J. (2010) Demystifying Postgraduate Research. A&C Black.
Grix, J., Watkins, G. (2010) Information Skills Finding and Using the Right Resources. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Grix, J., Cooke, P. (2003) East German Distinctiveness in a Unified Germany.
Grix, J. (2000) The Role of the Masses in the Collapse of the GDR. Springer.
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Chapters in books
Grix, J., Bason, T., Grix, L., Jeong, J.B. (2024) 'An overview and analysis of sports mega-events as part of state soft power strategies.' Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events. pp. 449-460.
Nina, K., Grix, J. (2021) 'Understanding ‘Public Diplomacy’, ‘Nation branding’ and ‘Soft power’ in Showcasing Places via Sports Mega-events.' Marketing Countries, Places, and Place-associated Brands. Edward Elgar Publishing..
Grix, J., Harris, S. (2016) 'Governance and Governmentality of Sport.' In Bairner, A., Kelly, J., Lee, J.W. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Sport and Politics. Routledge, pp. 3-15.
Grix, J. (2014) 'Leveraging legacies from sports mega-events: Concepts and cases.' Leveraging legacies from sports mega-events: Concepts and cases. Springer, pp. 1-184.
Grix, J., Knowles, V. (2003) 'The Euroregion and the maximization of social capital: Pro-Europa Viadrina.' New Borders for a Changing Europe: Cross-Border Cooperation and Governance. Routledge, pp. 155-178.
Grix, J., Cooke, P. (2003) 'Acknowledgements.' East German Distinctiveness in a Unified Germany.
Grix, J. (2003) 'Introduction to East German political and cultural distinctiveness.' East German Distinctiveness in a Unified Germany. pp. 1-14.
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Reports
Scelles, N., Grix, J., Jones, M., Hostler, T. (2019) The Rugby League dividend: Economic and social impact of Rugby League.
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Internet publications
Brannagan, P.M.T., Grix, J. (2014) Qatar’s Soft Power Gamble: the FIFA World Cup 2022. http://www.e-ir.info/2014/01/18/qatars-soft-power-gamble-the-fifa-world-cup-2022/.
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Journal articles
Brannagan, P.M., Grix, J. (2023) 'Nation-state strategies for human capital development: the case of sports mega-events in Qatar.' Third World Quarterly, pp. 1-18.
Jeong, J., Grix, J. (2023) 'An analysis of Japan’s soft power strategies through the prism of sports mega-events.' Sport in Society,
Grix, J. (2023) 'Editorial: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics: Country Profiles.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 15(1) pp. 1-1.
Grix, J., Dinsmore, A., Brannagan, P.M. (2023) 'Unpacking the politics of ‘sportswashing’: It takes two to tango.' Politics,
Grix, J., Bloyce, D., Hallman, K., Sotiriadou, P. (2022) 'Editorial.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 14(4) pp. 585-588.
Kramareva, N., Grix, J. (2022) 'Understanding Russia’s identity through Olympic ceremonies.' European Journal for Sport and Society, 20(1) pp. 79-100.
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.
Grix, J., Jeong, J.B., Kim, H. (2021) 'Understanding south korea’s use of sports mega-events for domestic, regional and international soft power.' Societies, 11(4)
Kim, H.M., Grix, J. (2021) 'Implementing a Sustainability Legacy Strategy: A Case Study of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.' Sustainability, 13(9) pp. 5141-5141.
Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M., Grimes, H., Neville, R. (2020) 'The impact of Covid-19 on sport.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 13(1) pp. 1-12.
Bason, T., Grix, J. (2020) 'Every loser wins: leveraging ‘unsuccessful’ Olympic bids for positive benefits.' European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(1) pp. 167-187.
Peng, Q., Dickson, G., Scelles, N., Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M. (2020) 'Esports Governance: Exploring Stakeholder Dynamics.' Sustainability, 12(19) pp. 8270-8270.
Grix, J., Gallant, , Brannagan, , Jones, (2020) 'Olympians' Attitudes toward Olympic Values: A “Sporting” Life History Approach.' Journal of Olympic Studies, 1(2) pp. 72-99.
Boardley, I.D., Grix, J., Ntoumanis, N., Smith, A.L. (2019) 'A qualitative investigation of coaches’ doping confrontation efficacy beliefs.' Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45
Kramareva, N., Grix, J. (2019) '‘War and Peace’ at the 1980 Moscow and 2014 Sochi Olympics: The Role of Hard and Soft Power in Russian Identity.' International Journal of the History of Sport, 35(14)
Grix, J., Grix, L. (2018) 'Exploring Differences in Unconventional Diplomacy.' Brown Journal of World Affairs, 25(1)
Dowling, M., Brown, P., Legg, D., Grix, J. (2018) 'Deconstructing Comparative Sport Policy Analysis: Assumptions, Challenges and New Directions.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 10(4) pp. 687-704.
Grix, J., Lindsey, I., De Bosscher, V., Bloyce, D. (2018) 'Theory and methods in sport policy and politics research.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 10(4) pp. 615-620.
Boardley, I.D., Mills, J., Smith, A.L., Grix, J., Wynne, C., Wilkins, L. (2018) 'Development of moral disengagement and self-regulatory efficacy assessments relevant to doping in sport and exercise.' Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36pp. 57-70.
Haut, J., Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M.T., van Hilvoorde, I. (2018) 'International prestige through ‘sporting success’: an evaluation of the evidence.' European Journal for Sport and Society, 14(4) pp. 311-326.
Bason, T., Grix, J. (2018) 'Planning to fail? Leveraging the Olympic bid.' Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 36(1) pp. 138-151.
Boardley, I.D., Smith, A.L., Mills, J.P., Grix, J., Wynne, C. (2017) 'Empathic and self-regulatory processes governing doping behavior.' Frontiers in Psychology, 8(SEP)
Grix, J., Kramareva, N. (2017) 'The Sochi Winter Olympics and Russia’s unique soft power strategy.' Sport in Society, 20(4) pp. 461-475.
Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M., Wood, H., Wynne, C. (2017) 'State strategies for leveraging sports mega-events: unpacking the concept of ‘legacy’.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 9(2) pp. 203-218.
Kitching, N., Grix, J., Phillpotts, L. (2017) 'Shifting hegemony in ‘a man’s world’: incremental change for female golf professional employment.' Sport in Society, 20(11) pp. 1530-1547.
Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M. (2016) 'Of Mechanisms and Myths: Conceptualising States’ “Soft Power” Strategies through Sports Mega-Events.' Diplomacy and Statecraft, 27(2) pp. 251-272.
Postlethwaite, V., Grix, J. (2016) 'Beyond the Acronyms: Sport Diplomacy and the Classification of the International Olympic Committee.' Diplomacy and Statecraft, 27(2) pp. 295-313.
Nichols, G., Grix, J., Ferguson, G., Griffiths, M. (2016) 'How sport governance impacted on Olympic legacy: A study of unintended consequences and the ‘Sport Makers’ volunteering programme.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 21(2) pp. 61-74.
Boardley, I.D., Grix, J., Harkin, J. (2015) 'Doping in team and individual sports: a qualitative investigation of moral disengagement and associated processes.' Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 7(5) pp. 698-717.
Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M., Houlihan, B. (2015) 'Interrogating States’ Soft Power Strategies: A Case Study of Sports Mega-Events in Brazil and the UK.' Global Society, 29(3) pp. 463-479.
Milton, K., Grix, J. (2015) 'Public health policy and walking in England - analysis of the 2008 'policy window'..' BMC public health, 15pp. 1-9.
Vieira, M., Grix, J. (2015) 'Introduction to the Special Issue on Challenges to Emerging and Established Powers: Brazil and the United Kingdom in the Contemporary Global Order.' Global Society, 29(3) pp. 281-285.
Toledo, R.M., Grix, J., Bega, M.T.S. (2015) 'Megaeventos esportivos e seus legados: Uma análise dos efeitos institucionais da eleição do Brasil como país-sede.' Revista de Sociologia e Politica, 23(56) pp. 21-44.
Grix, J., Houlihan, B. (2014) 'Sports mega-events as part of a nation's soft power strategy: The cases of Germany (2006) and the UK (2012).' British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 16(4) pp. 572-596.
Boardley, I.D., Grix, J., Dewar, A.J. (2014) 'Moral disengagement and associated processes in performance-enhancing drug use: a national qualitative investigation.' Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(9) pp. 836-844.
Phillpots, L., Grix, J. (2014) 'New governance and Physical Education and School Sport policy: A case study of School to Club Links.' Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 19(1) pp. 76-96.
Boardley, I.D., Grix, J. (2014) 'Doping in bodybuilders: A qualitative investigation of facilitative psychosocial processes.' Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 6(3) pp. 422-439.
Dinold, M., Diketmüller, R., Grix, J., Phillpots, L. (2013) 'Managing diversity and European policy: Towards a typology for sport pedagogy.' European Journal of Sport Science, 13(6) pp. 689-696.
Grix, J., Lee, D. (2013) 'Soft Power, Sports Mega-Events and Emerging States: The Lure of the Politics of Attraction.' Global Society, 27(4) pp. 521-536.
Grix, J. (2013) 'London 2012 and its legacies.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 5(2) pp. 163-164.
Carmichael, F., Grix, J., Marqués, D.P. (2013) 'The Olympic legacy and participation in sport: An interim assessment of Sport England's Active People Survey for sports studies research.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 5(2) pp. 229-244.
Grix, J. (2013) 'Culture change in a professional sports team: Shaping environmental contexts and regulating power.' International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 8(2) pp. 297-299.
Grix, J. (2013) 'Sport politics and the olympics.' Political Studies Review, 11(1) pp. 15-25.
Dennis, M., Grix, J. (2012) 'Sport Under Communism: Behind the East German 'Miracle'.' INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING, 7(4) pp. 721-726.
Grix, J. (2012) ''Image' leveraging and sports mega-events: Germany and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.' Journal of Sport and Tourism, 17(4) pp. 289-312.
Grix, J., Carmichael, F. (2012) 'Why do governments invest in elite sport? A polemic.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 4(1) pp. 73-90.
Phillpots, L., Grix, J., Quarmby, T. (2011) 'Centralized grassroots sport policy and 'new governance': A case study of county sports partnerships in the UK - unpacking the paradox.' International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 46(3) pp. 265-281.
Goodwin, M., Grix, J. (2011) 'Bringing structures back in: The 'governance narrative', the 'decentred approach' and 'asymmetrical network governance' in the education and sport policy communities.' Public Administration, 89(2) pp. 537-556.
Grix, J., Parker, A. (2011) 'Towards an explanation for the decline of athletics in the UK: A case study of male distance running.' Sport in Society, 14(5) pp. 612-628.
Grix, J., Phillpots, L. (2011) 'Revisiting the 'Governance narrative': 'Asymmetrical network governance' and the deviant case of the sports policy sector.' Public Policy and Administration, 26(1) pp. 3-19.
Grix, J. (2010) 'Introducing 'hard' interpretivism and 'Q' methodology: Notes from a project on 'county sport partnerships and governance'.' Leisure Studies, 29(4) pp. 457-467.
Dennis, M., Grix, J. (2010) 'Behind the iron curtain: Football as a site of contestation in the east german sports 'miracle'.' Sport in History, 30(3) pp. 447-474.
Grix, J. (2010) 'The 'governance debate' and the study of sport policy.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 2(2) pp. 159-171.
Grix, J. (2010) 'From hobbyhorse to mainstream: Using sport to understand British politics.' British Politics, 5(1) pp. 114-129.
Grix, J. (2010) 'Training Socialist Citizens: Sports and the State in East Germany.' SLAVIC REVIEW, 69(1) pp. 220-221.
Grix, J., Houžvička, V. (2002) 'Cross-border cooperation in theory and practice the case of Czech - German borderland.' Acta Universitatis Carolinae, Geographica, 37(1) pp. 61-77.
Grix, J., Knowles, V. (2002) 'The Euroregion and the maximization of social capital: Pro Europa Viadrina.' Regional and Federal Studies, 12(4) pp. 154-176.
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Conference papers
Boardley, I.D., Dewar, A., Grix, J. (2012) 'Moral disengagement in sport and beyond: The gym, the pitch, and the classroom-A qualitative investigation of moral disengagement in English bodybuilders.' 34. HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC, pp. S25-S26.