Sports as an Instrument of Extremism: Western Balkans Case Study

The research subject in this paper is the link between sports and violent extremism in the Western Balkans. The basic hypothesis states that sports are being used as an instrument of radicalization, i. e. for recruitment of new members in extremist groups. Even though football hooliganism has for many years now been linked with the extreme right-wing ideology, new trends emerged, stressing the link between martial arts and extremism. Moreover, the emergence of extreme sports, such as airsoft, represent a fertile ground for extremist groups’ activities. Due to lack of relevant literature and vast theoretical void existing in this field, the author will implement a theoretical-empirical research method (and especially empirical). Data collection method will be focused predominantly on in-depth interviews with the most significant actors in this field in the Western Balkans region. The conclusion is that there are two directions of extremist actions in the field of sports in the Western Balkans. The first is depicted in the well-established link between the extreme right-wing and football hooligans; the second is a new trend, pointing to the link between martial arts and airsoft clubs with radical Islam (Wahhabi communities). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between sports and violent extremism in the Western Balkans. The study aims to test the hypothesis that sports are being used as an instrument of radicalization, particularly for the recruitment of new members into extremist groups. While football hooliganism has been linked with extreme right-wing ideology for many years, new trends have emerged in recent years, highlighting the link between martial arts and extremism. Additionally, the rise of extreme sports such as airsoft provides a fertile ground for extremist groups' activities. Unfortunately, there is a lack of relevant literature and a theoretical void in this field. Therefore, this study will use a theoretical-empirical research method, with a focus on empirical data collection, primarily through in-depth interviews with the key actors in this field in the Western Balkans region. The study's conclusion suggests that there are two directions of extremist actions in the field of sports in the Western Balkans. The first direction is the well-established link between extreme right-wing ideology and football hooligans, which has persisted for more than a decade. The second direction is a new trend that points to the link between martial arts and airsoft clubs with radical Islam, specifically Wahhabi communities. By exploring these two directions, this study sheds light on the role of sports in violent extremism and provides important insights for policymakers, practitioners, and academics working on this issue.