We’re here to support you—from choosing a topic to your oral defense, we’ll guide you every step of the way toward your doctoral degree. Get an overview of current and past research topics of our doctoral candidates and graduates here.
Working Title: Fighting Youth Unemployment through Sports for Development – Palestine (West Bank & East Jerusalem)
Research Start: 2016
Content
Palestine is a country under immense political and economic pressure due to the conflict and oppression caused by the Israeli occupation, as well as internal strife between the political parties Fatah and Hamas. As a result, Palestinian society—and youth in particular—is increasingly divided and suffers from numerous divisions and obstacles. One consequence of this is a very high youth unemployment rate (39%). This dissertation examines and analyzes the role of Sport for Development (S4D) and the various S4D interventions aimed at enhancing the skills and employability of young people, with a focus on the theoretical aspects of the education and employment systems in Palestine as well as comprehensive data from the field: young people, decision-makers, policy, and statistics. It also provides insight into the history of Palestine, the political implications, the economic and sociocultural contexts, living conditions and youth migration, the mindset and approach to vocational education and training, as well as youth policy.
Contact
tawartani(at)gmail.com
Working Title: Interactions Between Institutional Characteristics and the Democratization of Sports Administration in Europe
Start of research: 2024
Research
"Democracy" is a key dimension of many good governance frameworks and is closely linked to the efforts of various stakeholders to promote and protect the integrity of sport. On a practical level, the prevailing view in academia is that democratic deficits (such as the absence of fair and open elections, stakeholder participation in decision-making, or a clear separation of powers) exist in various sports governance systems, whether in leading sports federations, anti-doping organizations, or professional team sports leagues and their clubs. However, these shortcomings stand in clear contradiction to the increasing pressure on sports organizations to comply with good governance standards in order to uphold the widely promoted principle of “conditional autonomy” in sport, as well as to the provisions on democracy in sport-specific policy documents such as the Council Resolution on the Main Characteristics of the European Model of Sport. Against this backdrop, there is ample reason to believe that the way in which several dimensions of elite sports in Europe are currently regulated is at odds with fundamental democratic values enshrined in EU and/or national legislation.
Furthermore, at the theoretical level, there is a lack of comprehensive research into the normative foundations of the articulated democratic principles in sport-specific governance research. To this day, it remains unclear where certain norms, rights, and moral values intended to define democracy in sports governance are anchored and whether they have, for example, a universalist or rather a contextualist character. Furthermore, there is only limited knowledge regarding potential influencing factors (determinants), (causal) relationships, and effects related to the implementation of democratic processes in sports governance systems. This, in turn, is a critical need given the increasing complexity of multi-level governance in elite sports in Europe, both at the vertical level (e.g., through national and trans/supranational regulation of sport) as well as horizontally (e.g., across individual countries and sports). In summary, there is a strong need for a higher degree of analytical differentiation in democracy research in the fields of sports governance and comparative sports policy as a whole.
Based on four EU-funded IESF research projects that form a comprehensive methodological and analytical framework, the main objective of this dissertation is to conceptualize, map, and explain the (non-)democratic governance within three distinct, yet interconnected sports governance systems at the EU level, and to further shape the sport-specific discourse on good governance. With a particular analytical focus on issues of participation and athlete well-being—which are gaining momentum in sports governance worldwide and are the subject of controversial debate at both the academic and practical levels—the dissertation’s two overarching research questions, which will guide the further research process, are:
Working title: Sports and Environmental Protection
Start of research: February 2024
Working Title: Grassroots Sports Development in Sri Lanka: Actors, Actions, Arguments, and Achievements
Start of research: 2023
Content
The aim of this study is to develop a framework for the sustainable development of grassroots sports in Sri Lanka by examining current practices, key challenges, and potential strategies within the institutionalized sports sector. Using an interpretive qualitative research approach, the study draws on semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, and document analysis to gather meaningful, context-specific data from five key stakeholder groups, including government institutions, national sports federations, athletes and coaches, educational institutions, and private-sector actors. Data analysis is conducted using a thematic analysis framework, supported by stakeholder triangulation and ongoing comparative analysis to enhance the credibility and depth of the interpretation. The analytical framework is based on the dimensions identified by the High-Level Group on Sport for All, including health, social inclusion, informal learning, volunteerism, economic sustainability, financing, and infrastructure. The study aims to identify structural gaps, governance challenges, and opportunities for collaboration in the development of grassroots sport in Sri Lanka and ultimately to serve as a basis for the development of a sustainable, inclusive, and context-specific national model for promoting grassroots sport.
This study aims to develop a sustainable grassroots sport development framework for Sri Lanka by examining current practices, key challenges, and potential strategies within institutionalized sport settings. Adopting an interpretivist qualitative research design, the study utilizes semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, and document analysis to generate rich, context-specific data from five major stakeholder groups, including government institutions, national sports federations, athletes and support personnel, educational institutions, and private-sector stakeholders. Data analysis employs a thematic analysis framework, supported by stakeholder triangulation and constant comparative analysis to enhance credibility and the depth of interpretation. The analytical framework is guided by the dimensions identified by the High-Level Group on Grassroots Sport, including health, social inclusion, informal learning, volunteering, economic sustainability, financing, and infrastructure. The study is expected to identify structural gaps, governance challenges, and opportunities for collaboration within Sri Lanka’s grassroots sports development, ultimately informing the development of a sustainable, inclusive, and contextually relevant national grassroots sports development model.
Working Title: Sports Diplomacy from a Women’s Perspective
Start of research: 10/2023
Working Title: Opportunities and Limitations of Sports Diplomacy in the Western Balkans
Start of Research: 2022
Content
Sport is increasingly gaining importance as a diplomatic tool and reinforces foreign policy and diplomatic messages. It can also be used to strengthen an international “brand” with a view to capitalizing on new political and economic opportunities.
Through its renewed approach to Western Balkan enlargement, the EU is seeking to capitalize on its current economic and political recovery and bring the region closer. It is becoming clear that the role of sports in the foreign policy of post-socialist states is a significant issue, yet it has received little attention within the academic community and the field of international relations.
The proposed dissertation aims to fill a gap in the academic literature and open up new research perspectives. Substantial efforts will be made to shed light on the situation in the Western Balkans, particularly in certain target countries (such as Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia, etc.).
Working Title
Who Are the Fans of German Women's Soccer? A Theoretical Analysis of Social Foundations, Media, and Collective Identity
Start of Research: October 2025
Content
In recent years, women’s soccer has garnered increasing social and media attention both nationally and internationally. A particularly defining moment was the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, which not only sparked enthusiasm in Germany but was also seen as a “boost” for public interest in women’s soccer. This development is not only evident on the international stage: A growing interest is also evident in the amateur and semiprofessional sectors. Meanwhile, research in this field has shown little progress. Women’s soccer is rarely the focus of study, and within this narrow field, fan research plays no role.
The goal of this proposed dissertation is to close this gap by documenting and analyzing the sociocultural structures and dynamics of the fan scene in German women’s soccer and to gain a deeper understanding of the motivations and needs of this fan group.
Working Title: Youth Sports Policy in Europe A Cross-National Comparison and Perspectives on Europeanization
Start of Research: 2015
Content:
The health and physical activity of children and adolescents is currently a polarizing issue. As the foundation for lifelong participation in sports, the topic of youth sports is now a key focus on political agendas across Europe. Criticism has been directed at a lack of structures or insufficient cooperation among various stakeholders. To date, academic research on this topic has been very limited. A cross-national study of the structures and systems focused on youth sports does not yet exist in this form.
The aim of this dissertation is therefore to systematically analyze the multidimensional, complex policy field of “youth sports” and to compare it at the multinational level. Specifically, the study examines the differences among the selected countries with regard to the criteria under investigation in the field of youth sports and how these differences should be evaluated. In addition to the multinational country analysis and the examination at the supranational level, the policy field of youth sports will be presented in the European context and discussed with regard to a Europeanization approach.
To this end, a literature and document review will first be conducted as a methodological foundation. Building on this, expert interviews will be conducted and evaluated using qualitative content analysis. The theory and methodology will be used to develop a practical categorization framework to examine European youth sports systems using a comprehensive design.
Consequently, the expected results will have not only empirical but also theoretical relevance. The study also aims to stimulate further research and provide useful implications for the countries under investigation.
Working Title: “Unraveling Complexity in China’s Sport Governance: Policies, Processes, and the Dialectical Relationships Within the Con-temporary Policy Network”
Start of research: 2020
Content
Since the 1970s, reform has created unprecedented opportunities for understanding bureaucratic relationships and political processes in China, including in the field of sports. Recently, the sports policy process has received increasing attention—specifically regarding its relationship to politics, the role of authority, interactions during the process, the manner in which sports policy is made, and whether there is a way to open the “black box” of sports policy in China. Policy networks, as a highly insightful theoretical framework for understanding the sports policy process in China, were tested in Danlin Wu’s completed master’s thesis. Based on the empirical study, the policy network for sports in China constitutes a more integrated political community consisting of the inner circles of coexisting state bureaucrats within the Party and the outer circles of sporadic and issue-specific QUANGOs and other actors.
As an extension of the master’s thesis, this dissertation aims to further explore the dialectical relationships between these key elements (i.e., actors, networks, contextual factors, etc.) in the political process. The meso-level framework of policy networks will be placed at the center of the analysis, and macro-level variables related to fragmented authoritarianism and the Chinese model of consensus decision-making will be incorporated to enhance the explanatory power regarding the sports policy process in China. The planned dissertation adopts a qualitative research approach. To this end, the study will conduct interviews with relevant experts, scholars, and local government officials, as well as perform a content analysis of policy documents, government reports, official publications, correspondence between network actors, personal archives, meeting minutes, interview transcripts, and so on. Consequently, the dialectical nexus can be explored in both abstract and concrete forms within the sports policy process in China.
Working Title: Insights into China's Leisure Sports: From the Perspective of Sustainability
Start of Research: 2022
Content
With the implementation of statutory holidays and the rapid development of the economy, leisure sports have gradually become a key priority in China’s leisure and sports development. In the foreseeable future, as an important national development strategy, leisure sports will become a significant component of public policy, particularly in the field of sports policy. This study aims to conduct foundational research on the development of leisure sports in China. First, the study will outline the historical context of the development of leisure sports in China, focusing on the evolution of leisure sports policy. More importantly, from the perspective of sustainability, this study will comprehensively apply analytical frameworks and theories from the fields of policy science, sociology, and sports science to explore the sustainability of the leisure sports policy itself (including the interaction between policy and economic, political, and social development), the sustainability of individual development under the policy (physical literacy), and the sustainability of the ecological environment under the influence of the policy (sports-themed towns). The study will ultimately provide a comprehensive evaluation of the sustainability of recreational sports development in China and offer evidence-based recommendations for future development by examining the past, present, and future of China’s recreational sports policy.
Title: "Life Coaching in German Professional and Youth Soccer" — On the Systemic-Organizational Classification and Effective Design of a New Field of Study and Practice at the Intersection of Responsibility and Performance Orientation, Secularism, and Spirituality
Research period: 2011–2025
Public Defense: May 20, 2025
Second Reviewer: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ansgar Thiel (DSHS)
Publication: fis.dshs-koeln.de/de/publications/life-coaching-im-deutschen-profi-und-nachwuchsfu%C3%9Fball-zur-einordn/
Content
This interdisciplinary dissertation study addresses the central research question of how a lifecoaching format for German professional and youth soccer—within the framework of the two areas of tension: responsibility and performance orientation, as well as secularity and spirituality—must be systematically and organizationally structured and designed so that, on the one hand, at the individual level of players and coaches, the interplay of performance, personal development, and life planning—across career and life stages—is successful in fostering meaning and identity (micro level)—and, on the other hand, to ensure that the clubs and associations themselves are developed as spaces for personal growth and resonance (meso level), thereby making a positive contribution to the transformation of society (macro level). The goal of this action-oriented research project was to develop a “life coaching” model for German professional and youth soccer based on the findings of the study, while also reflecting on the individual, organizational, and societal opportunities and limitations—as well as challenges of implementing such a form of support as a standalone format. One focus of the study is on analyses of English professional and youth soccer, as in the Premier League, issues related to interpretations of meaning, values, and lifestyle have been addressed for many years by so-called “sports chaplains” at the majority of clubs. On the other hand, developments in business coaching within an economic context serve as a second point of reference. In addition, other relevant sources and studies in this field of research—primarily from the Anglo-American region—were identified and analyzed. Qualitative data collection took the form of mutually agreed-upon, non-anonymized, semi-structured guided interviews (N = 36) with managers, coaches, current and former players, as well as player, club, and association advisors and experts from the neighboring formats or disciplines of life coaching examined—specifically from the fields of sports psychology, sports psychiatry and psychotherapy, and sports pastoral care. Based on the findings of the dissertation study, it can be concluded, among other things, that—as an extension of the prevailing biopsychosocial model—only a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual understanding meets the requirements of holistic support and development —and that the integration of non-sports-related identities into athletes’ identities at the individual micro-level, even during their athletic careers, is not an obstacle but rather strengthens performance and personality development and provides existential support during the transition phase following the end of their careers. The same applies to the exploration of questions of meaning. In the support and development system of German professional and youth soccer, there are currently —at least on a nationwide basis—according to the study’s findings, although current and former professional soccer players have already pointed out this “missing link” on numerous occasions and the longing for meaning is an “anthropological constant.” Furthermore, the study shows that clubs and associations at the organizational meso-level can promote performance and well-being based on a responsibility-driven performance orientation and can themselves be developed as spaces for personal growth and resonance. And if life coaching is utilized in its triage (or “glue”), mediation, and facilitation functions for fields such as sports psychiatry, sports psychology, and sports pastoral care, a transformative impact spanning multiple levels of analysis—all the way up to the societal macro level—is conceivable. Overall, this dissertation study highlights how important it is for holistic support and development in German professional and youth soccer to both distinguish between the individual social science levels of analysis and to relate them to one another.
“Rising Actors on the Sport-Political Stage? An Institutional Analysis of Athlete-Centered Sport Governance”
Research period: 2020 to 2025
Defense: May 8, 2025
Second Reviewer: Dr. Borja García García (Loughborough University)
Content
Elite athletes are increasingly becoming the focus of discussions and academic work on global sports governance. Based on the concept of “athlete-centeredness,” which plays a central role in some fields of sports science, this dissertation approaches sports governance from the perspective that athletes are individuals with both individual and collective rights. The study adopts an explicitly political science approach in which institutions serve as the central unit of analysis. The dissertation conceptualizes “athlete-centered institutions” as intertemporal social arrangements—including formal rules, laws, and regulations; informal norms and conventions; and organizations—that influence the civil, political, and social rights of elite athletes in accordance with specific values.
The empirical research pursues two central objectives: Building on analytical concepts from the neo-institutionalist literature, the dissertation examines 1) whether different collective forms of advocacy by athletes can be regarded as actors in sports governance, and 2) what empirical effects athlete-centered institutions have. The dissertation is based on six independent research articles that analyze various empirical manifestations of athlete-centered institutions. While each article has its own theoretical framework, empirical evidence, and implications for practice and research, the research objectives are achieved through an overarching, theory-driven analysis of the results. The analysis shows that the different models of athlete advocacy—athlete commissions and independent athlete organizations—face specific challenges that determine whether they are regarded as actors in the political science sense. Only independent athlete organizations can be attributed the status of a political actor. To achieve the second research objective, a theoretical model for examining the relationship between institutions and power is adapted. This model makes it possible to analyze the effects of athlete-centered institutions.
The results reveal a complex interplay between actor-based power and existing institutions that explains the current status quo. Athlete-centered institutions at the global level emerge from the “structural power” of sports organizations. In contrast, the relevant national institutions are significantly influenced by overarching structures of the national political system. Furthermore, existing institutions channel the power and influence of athletes. This latter finding enables the formulation of an institutional concept of “athlete power.” Although institutions tend to favor the status quo and power imbalances in sports governance persist, the cumulative findings of this study indicate that athlete-centered institutions can be reformed. Three distinct but closely interrelated paths of institutional change can be derived from the empirical analyses. These synthesize the theoretical and empirical findings of the study and offer starting points for participation in sports policy discourses, debates, processes, and reforms.
“The Impact of the Regime Change and Transformation Processes in Iraq on Sports”
Research period: 2012–2025
Second Reviewer: Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz, University of Hamburg
Defense: May 20, 2025
Abstract
In recent years, academic research has increasingly focused on individual sports systems around the world and has also begun to examine the countries of the Middle East more closely. The focus has primarily been on countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which have garnered international attention through their hosting of major sporting events. Other countries, however, have remained largely overlooked. This includes Iraq, which has undergone significant political, economic, and social transformation in recent decades. While the 1990s were marked by Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, international isolation, and economic sanctions—particularly following the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the Gulf War in 1991—the 2000s, following 9/11 and the subsequent U.S. invasion in 2003—which led to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the occupation of the country by foreign troops—brought protracted conflicts that resulted in ongoing instability, terrorism, and ethnic tensions in Iraq. The withdrawal of U.S. troops around 2010 and the subsequent takeover of parts of Iraqi territory by the so-called IS (Islamic State) resulted in a humanitarian crisis and a long struggle by Iraqi forces and various international coalitions against IS. It was not until 2017 that Iraqi forces—supported by an international alliance—were able to push back the Islamic State. Since then, Iraq has continued to face political instability, economic challenges, corruption, and the task of reconstruction following years of conflict. These changes will also fundamentally transform the sports system by altering not only the framework conditions but also the functional roles assigned to sports. This dissertation project aims to examine these changes in the sports system, with a particular focus on the social and political transformation processes in Iraq.
The Development Process of Trending Sports Amid the Interplay of Sociocultural, Economic, and Media Influences in Sports: The Significance of Stakeholders, Events, and New Media in Water and Beach Sports
Research period: 2017–2023
Defense: December 20, 2023
Second Reviewer: Prof. Dr. Martin K.W. Schweer (University of Vechta)
Abstract
Since the early 1990s, numerous new trend sports—for example, in the water, beach, and outdoor sectors—have emerged and become established at various levels of the sports system. At the societal level, the emergence and popularization of trend sports are embedded in the growing significance of informal sports (keyword: scenes) and in the pluralization of motivations for participating in sports. The economic relevance of trend sports is currently reflected in the growing range of sports offerings from commercial sports providers, in new segments of the sporting goods industry, and in increased event marketing activities by companies in the trend sports sector. At the level of sports media, trend sports are now covered both in specialized magazines (fanzines and special-interest magazines) and in new media.
This study aims to provide an overview of the sociocultural, economic, and media influences on the development process of trend sports in the fields of water and beach sports. In this context, in addition to the significance of social, economic, and media actors in sports and their interconnections, the role of events and new media as platforms for showcasing these sports in the development process of trend sports was also examined. The models available in trend sport research for describing the ideal-typical development trajectory of trend sports provided a starting point. In contrast to the current state of research, which primarily approaches trend sports from discipline-specific perspectives, this dissertation adopted an interdisciplinary approach by integrating and analyzing the interplay of three levels (sports-societal, sports-economic, and sports-media). Furthermore, this dissertation is characterized by a focus on actors and staging platforms, as well as a comparison of two groups of trend sports (water sports and beach sports). To investigate the research questions, a total of 52 guided expert interviews were conducted, three each in selected water sports (wakeboarding, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling) and beach sports (beach handball, beach soccer, beach tennis). The method of analysis used was content-structuring qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz.
Based on the results of the empirical study, two developmental trajectories for trend sports in the water and beach sports sectors were identified. In the water sports, a development trajectory shaped by sports economics and sports culture emerged, driven by the significance of the two sports-economic actors—the sporting goods industry and commercial sports providers—as well as the sports-cultural actor “scene.” In contrast, according to the empirical results, beach sports followed a development trajectory shaped by sports society, which was reflected in the role and influences of the “scene” as a sports society actor.
The findings of this study suggest the following approaches for future research on trend sports: (a) a greater degree of differentiation (with regard to the identified differences in the development processes of water and beach sports as well as the participating actors), (b) increased interdisciplinarity (indicated by the multiple interactions of identified sports-societal, sports-economic, and sports-media influences, as well as historical milestones), (c) a deeper focus on actors and staging platforms (illustrated by their significance in the development process and by their connections to the identified milestones in the historical development process), and (d) an intensified focus on sports economics and sports media (derived from the significance and pronounced influence of actors in sports economics and sports media).