著者

石原 豊一

出版者

日本スポーツ産業学会

雑誌

スポーツ産業学研究 (ISSN:13430688)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.18, no.2, pp.21-29, 2008

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The Israel Baseball League (IBL) that started in the summer of 2007 is one example of the expanding of sports in recent years that has an increasing relation with capital. Most IBL players come from outside of Israel. Players from developed countries participate in the league by using the vacation for their self-actualization. On the contrary, players from developing nations come to obtain provisions of life. This means a "CenterPeripheral" relation is occurring, from the areas where professional baseball has been played to the baseball-barren "Deterritorialized" world of Israel. It is thought Jewish nationalism is a great factor supporting the professional league which suddenly started in Israel, where profits can't be expected from the baseball business. In fact, the IBL carries out the function of getting U.S. immigrants to imagine solidarity with the Jewish community in the native state. At present, professional baseball is in the process of developing a global aspect, supported by the MLB, and in North America a business model of "Independent Leagues" that supplements this flow has appeared. It can be said that the IBL is one of the "Independent Leagues" that is also expanding globally. Though sports have spread from "Central" to "Peripheral" nations as a cultural event before, the current expansion is being accomplished as one of the systems of production. We can see one aspect of how globalization has influenced of sports from this example of IBL.