In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights

This paper examines Qatar's 2022 World Cup through the lens of liminality, presenting the intricate interplay between tradition, modernity, and human rights. By introducing liminality as an analytical tool, the paper explores how Qatar navigates traditional norms amidst global scrutiny, particu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mohammed Al-Thani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1434522/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832539870751358976
author Mohammed Al-Thani
author_facet Mohammed Al-Thani
author_sort Mohammed Al-Thani
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines Qatar's 2022 World Cup through the lens of liminality, presenting the intricate interplay between tradition, modernity, and human rights. By introducing liminality as an analytical tool, the paper explores how Qatar navigates traditional norms amidst global scrutiny, particularly concerning human rights issues such as migrant labour practices and cultural contestations around human rights. Employing liminality as a conceptual framework, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of Qatar's endeavour to balance cultural authenticity with international expectations. I reveal why Qatar utilised the transient phase to implement reforms to its social and legal systems, aligning with international human rights while ensuring changes were akin with its cultural identity. The paper highlights the transient nature of change during the liminal phase of sport mega-events, emphasising both the opportunities and challenges presented for changes in Qatar. The paper unpacks Qatar continued navigation in the global stage as an extension of the initial liminal phase, demonstrating its engagements with processes of change and adaptation. The World Cup is a prime example that exposes the dual nature of sport mega events, serving as a springboard for social change, while also revealing underlying cultural and structural tensions. I conclude that Qatar utilised this liminal phase as a rite of passage, enabling the nation to traverse the terrain of modernity while testing the permeability of its cultural boundaries.
format Article
id doaj-art-0ebf7917f7fa4f70aef2a675bc4e48b9
institution Kabale University
issn 2624-9367
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
spelling doaj-art-0ebf7917f7fa4f70aef2a675bc4e48b92025-02-05T07:32:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-02-01610.3389/fspor.2024.14345221434522In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rightsMohammed Al-ThaniThis paper examines Qatar's 2022 World Cup through the lens of liminality, presenting the intricate interplay between tradition, modernity, and human rights. By introducing liminality as an analytical tool, the paper explores how Qatar navigates traditional norms amidst global scrutiny, particularly concerning human rights issues such as migrant labour practices and cultural contestations around human rights. Employing liminality as a conceptual framework, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of Qatar's endeavour to balance cultural authenticity with international expectations. I reveal why Qatar utilised the transient phase to implement reforms to its social and legal systems, aligning with international human rights while ensuring changes were akin with its cultural identity. The paper highlights the transient nature of change during the liminal phase of sport mega-events, emphasising both the opportunities and challenges presented for changes in Qatar. The paper unpacks Qatar continued navigation in the global stage as an extension of the initial liminal phase, demonstrating its engagements with processes of change and adaptation. The World Cup is a prime example that exposes the dual nature of sport mega events, serving as a springboard for social change, while also revealing underlying cultural and structural tensions. I conclude that Qatar utilised this liminal phase as a rite of passage, enabling the nation to traverse the terrain of modernity while testing the permeability of its cultural boundaries.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1434522/full2022 world cupsport mega eventsliminalityliminal spaceshuman rights
spellingShingle Mohammed Al-Thani
In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
2022 world cup
sport mega events
liminality
liminal spaces
human rights
title In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights
title_full In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights
title_fullStr In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights
title_full_unstemmed In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights
title_short In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights
title_sort in the liminal realm qatar s world cup struggle between tradition modernity and human rights
topic 2022 world cup
sport mega events
liminality
liminal spaces
human rights
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1434522/full
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammedalthani intheliminalrealmqatarsworldcupstrugglebetweentraditionmodernityandhumanrights