103
Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
The Facilitating role of sport in foreign
relations of the US and Iran
O papel de facilitador do esporte nas relações externas
dos EUA e do Irã
El papel del facilitador deportivo en las relaciones
exteriores de EE. UU. E Irán
Amir Hosein Monazzami
1
Mahdi Shariati Feizabadi
2
DOI: 10.5752/P.2317-773X.2020v8.n2.p103
Received in: December 16, 2019
Accepted in: April 06, 2020
A
Attractiveness and eectiveness are the two main global features of sport; The
Islamic Republic of Iran’s “soft power”, after fourteen years of its revolution,
has been inuenced by various macro and micro concepts that have been
repeatedly challenged by Western countries, especially the United States. So,
the Islamic Republic of Iran, in light of recent years’ successes in the interna-
tional eld of sports, including seventeenth among the 206 countries in the
Olympic 2012 can use this capacity to expand its interactions in the international
arena. The purpose of the present study was initially to explore the concepts
of strengthening Iran’s soft power through sport and to design a favorable
paradigm for the development of diplomatic relations with Western countries,
especially the United States. Then, SPSS and PLS software were used to inves-
tigate the correlation between variables based on Spearman’s test, exploratory
factor analysis and nally structural and interpretive modeling of independent
and dependent variables. The ndings showed that seven factors of nancial
development, devout, conversion, civilization, cohesion, governmental issues
and friendship were in four levels inuenced by Iran’s international sporting
environment.
Keywords: United States. Iran. West. Sports Diplomacy. Olympic.
R
O soft power da República Islâmica do Irã, após catorze anos de sua revolução,
foi inuenciado por vários conceitos macro e micro que foram repetidamente
desaados pelos países ocidentais, especialmente pelos Estados Unidos. Assim,
a República Islâmica do Irã, à luz dos sucessos dos últimos anos no campo
internacional do esporte, incluindo o décimo sétimo entre os 206 países nas
Olimpíadas de 2012, pode usar essa capacidade para expandir suas interações
na arena internacional. O objetivo do presente estudo foi inicialmente explorar
1. Assistance Prof. Department of
Sport Sciences, Shahid Rajaee Teacher
Training University, Tehran, Iran
He was born in 11 March 1978 in
Alashtar from Iran.
BA: Islamic Azad University, Iran
MA: University of Tehran, Iran
PhD: University of Tehran, Iran
Research Interest: Sport Events
National Volleyball Player of I.R. Iran
Corresponding Author: Email: amirho-
sein.monazami@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-8020-7698
2. Assistance Prof. Department of
Physical Education, Technical and Voca-
tional University, Tehran, Iran
He was born in 21 April 1987 in
Mashhad from Iran.
BA: University of Tehran, Iran
MA: University of Tehran, Iran
PhD: University of Tehran, Iran
Research Interest: Sport Diplomacy
Email: mshariati@tvu.ac.ir
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1260-5253
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estudos internacionais • Belo Horizonte, ISSN 2317-773X, v. 8, n. 2, (jun. 2020), p. 103 - 119
os conceitos de fortalecer o poder brando do Irã por meio do esporte e projetar
um paradigma favorável ao desenvolvimento de relações diplomáticas com os
países ocidentais, especialmente os Estados Unidos. Em seguida, os softwares
SPSS e PLS foram utilizados para investigar a correlação entre variáveis baseadas
no teste de Spearman, análise fatorial exploratória e, nalmente, modelagem es-
trutural e interpretativa de variáveis independentes e dependentes. As descober-
tas mostraram que sete fatores de desenvolvimento econômico, uxo religioso,
transformação e comunicação, intercâmbio cultural, unidade nacional, cor-
rentes políticas e construção da paz estavam em quatro níveis inuenciados pelo
ambiente esportivo internacional do Irã.
Palavras-chave: Estados Unidos. Irã. Ocidente. Diplomacia Esportiva. Olímpica.
R
El poder blando de la República Islámica de Irán, después de catorce años de su
revolución, ha sido inuenciado por varios conceptos macro y micro que han
sido desaados repetidamente por los países occidentales, especialmente los
Estados Unidos. Por lo tanto, la República Islámica de Irán, a la luz de los éxitos
de los últimos años en el campo internacional del deporte, incluido el deci-
moséptimo entre los 206 países en los Juegos Olímpicos de 2012, puede utilizar
esta capacidad para expandir sus interacciones en el ámbito internacional. El ob-
jetivo del presente estudio fue inicialmente explorar los conceptos de fortalecer
el poder blando de Irán a través del deporte y diseñar un paradigma favorable
para el desarrollo de las relaciones diplomáticas con los países occidentales,
especialmente los Estados Unidos. Luego, el software SPSS y PLS se utilizaron
para investigar la correlación entre variables basadas en la prueba de Spearman,
el análisis factorial exploratorio y, nalmente, el modelado estructural e inter-
pretativo de variables independientes y dependientes. Los resultados mostraron
que siete factores de desarrollo económico, ujo religioso, transformación y
comunicación, intercambio cultural, unidad nacional, corrientes políticas y
construcción de la paz estaban en cuatro niveles inuenciados por el entorno
deportivo internacional de Irán.
Palabras clave: Estados Unidos. Irán, oeste. Diplomacia Deportiva. Olímpico.
Introduction
In the light of globalization, information technology has been rap-
idly developed and advanced, and using the aforementioned facilities
and easy access to the technology has evolved the international circum-
stances. This structural and inherent evolution in international system
converted the public diplomacy to a tool, to which the governments re-
sort, to be able to better attain their national goals regarding other states
(RAHMANI, 2015). That is, goals which essentially include political, eco-
nomic, cultural, and social aspects (KESHAVARZ SHOKRI, 2013). Be-
sides these goals, the nature of public diplomacy has also been changed.
Unlike the past, where the nature of international system and its associ-
ated relationships were based on hard power and when the governments
used military forces, army, conferrals, and international unities and liai-
sons to gain their international goals, today the countries worldwide are
looking for alternative solutions and seeking a “softer” term to progress
their diplomatic goals (SABBAGHIAN, 2016). Moreover, the governments
try not to only focus their diplomatic system on the governing board of
105
Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
the counterpart country and are trying to aect the social and mental
structures of people. Thus, one of the most important characteristics of
diplomacy arises. In modern diplomacy, people satisfaction and require-
ments have the topmost position, and the people’s foreign decisions are
dependent on people’s opinions. Also, other alternative tools (other than
hard power) are applied to realize foreign goals. Therefore, practitioners
and politicians talk about sport diplomacy, because of its peacemaking
and training functions, and due to the fact that sports are considered as a
“soft power” (GRIX; HOULIHAN, 2014).
Indeed, sports diplomacy is the eorts of countries sport ambassa-
dors in various elds to boost a country’s picture and its soft power; for
example, the presence of Dennis Rodman, the American basketball play-
er in North Korea, and watching basketball with North Korea’s president
indicates the power of this part of public diplomacy. Or embracing the
picture of Iranian’s leader by Melvyn Douglas, the American wrestler in
the crowd of 7
th
Iranian presidential election is another representation
of sport’s soft power in developing the relationships between disputative
countries; this kind of diplomacy is based on cultural and social values of
dierent countries and targets the public opinions, politicians, as well as
governments. Sports diplomacy act as an elixir which, as an ingenious
and intact diplomatic tool is able to remove the discrepancies and can
promote development, conversation and consistency. Firms which works
in the eld of sports and diplomacy can enhance positive values of sports,
such as mutual respects, discipline, patience and tolerance, and compas-
sion in the rough and sharp political relations, and thus soften such an
atmosphere (LI, 2013).
Sport diplomacy is intentionally and consistently employed by gov-
ernmental and non-governmental actors to advance politics, businesses,
development, training, image, reputation, brand name, and people to
people communications and it uses sport events in this regard (MUR-
RAY, 2013). Indeed, as the diplomats sit around a desk, the athletes are
also running around a runway to realize the national goals; sport diplo-
macy is mostly emphasizing on the peace which is created among gov-
ernments and nations, and this is the factor that increases the tendency
to hold sport events. For example, 2008 Olympic games in Beijing is an
indication of understanding and friendship sense boosting, as well as re-
moving the created borders due to the end of the Cold War (JANKOVIC,
2017). Therefore, the bond between diplomacy and sports is an eective
solution which in companion can enhance a brighter and more eective
horizon to attain international diplomatic successes (SABBAGHIAN,
2016).
Besides the cultural areas, sports as an important and eective
dimension, has played a considerable role in countries’ political and
economic development (NAURIGHT; SCHIMMEL, 2005). Due to the
political and cultural aspects, sport has been widely recognized among
countries, and today the international sport is considered as an insep-
arable component of nations’ interrelationships and campaigns (MUR-
RAY, 2013). In this regard, can one claim that the share of each country
from the sport or the sport industries is dierent, depending on the cul-
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tural type and their policy makers’ point of view? It can be seen that the
nancial turnover due to the sports is dierent in countries which con-
siders sports as a means of entertainment, compared to the countries
which addresses sports as a part of their macroeconomics (SHARIATI
FEIZABADI, 2016). For example, in United Kingdom (UK) sports in-
dustries are placed among the rst 15 biggest industries, while in some
other undeveloped countries, sports are not even considered as a small
productive industry.
However, what is evident is that a high share of revenues in de-
veloped countries is related to the sports’ industries. In other word, pro-
fessional sports are no longer considered as an entertainment, but also
it is in fact, a highly protable industry which has a high capability to
absorb capitals. For example, by designing a sports’ decade (between 2010
to 2020), Brazil, as one of the 5 powers of evolving economies of BRICS
3
tried to host various disciplines of sports, such as FIFA world cup of 2014
or the summer Olympics of 2016 in Rio. Besides using this heritage in
economic development, Brazil, as such, tried to introduce itself as a stan-
dard country in international arena (SAJJADI, 2000). Thereby, paying at-
tention to sports and sports’ events can aect other employment areas
as an umbrella, and can inuence other people employments indirectly.
Development and economic collaborations, accompanying with sports
communications, cause the governments to promote the political and
foreign cultures and learn lessons from each other (ŠTULAJER; ŠTULA-
JER, 2016). Besides this national protability, sports diplomacy has now
succeeded in making borders pale, and opening more ways to conversa-
tions, through which various people can gather altogether (KHABIRI,
2014). According to the aforementioned advantages, this kind of diploma-
cy causes the relationships between governments and nations to boost
as time passes. As well, in the twentieth and twenty-st centuries, that
diplomacy was considered a theory, policy and culture in which interna-
tional relations are based on (DEOS, 2016).
Investigating the literature, we concluded that there has been a
large attention and focus on sports diplomacy as an eective solution to
remove between-countries’ stresses. Bakhshi Chenari et al. (2019) in their
study, “providing solutions to enable and enhance the sports diplomacy
in foreign policy of Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI)”, taking a qualitative
and quantitative approach, have concluded that the most important solu-
tions to enable and boost sports diplomacy in foreign policy of IRI are, as
follows, according to the experts’ perspective:
• Reviewing the administrative directives in sports agencies
(i.e. ministry of sports, the national committee of sports, etc.);
• Holding coordination meetings between ministry of sports
and ministry of foreign aairs, as the two main adminis-
trates of sports diplomacy;
• Training the political-sports managers of the country, con-
sidering the primary principles of international interactions
in a worldwide level; and
• The development and execution of a comprehensive and sci-
entic program to enhance the sports diplomacy.
3. . BRICs: Brazil, Russia, India, China,
and South Africa
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Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
Shariati Feizabadi and Nazemi (2017), in their study, titled “De-
signing the concepts of sports’ peacemaker culture in the development of
international relationships” concluded that among various phenomena,
sports is considered as one of the most prominent indications of peace in
the 3
th
millennia, and could play a considerable role amongst the peace-
making programs of BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).
These countries have employed sports as a lever and a mean to appeal
their requirements from the global society. Islamic Republic of Iran re-
ferred to the View Plan in 2013 at United Nations General Assembly, and
now it is able to employ its national sports capacity in order to realize its
goals and objectives in international arena. Also, the ndings indicated
that the 34 frequent concepts in the eld of sports can play an explanatory
role in creating a peacemaker culture concept. Among these locutions,
“replacing the war and military diplomacy with sports, and creating in-
ternational friendship” was the most frequent locution (SHARIATI FEIZ-
ABADI; NAZEMI, 2017); In another research, titled “The place of sport in
domestic and international politics for peace and friendship” which has
been carried out by Mohammadi Aziz Abadi (2018), he concluded that
sports plays the following considerable and strategic roles in the nations
and governments’ relationships (AZIZ ABADI, 2018):
• Improvement and modication of a nations’ image;
• Boosting friendship;
• Increasing the peace and developing between-countries
friendship;
• Developing the business and tourism;
• Encouraging the international development;
• Unifying minorities; and
• The most important, the improvement of international rela-
tionships in order to boost the between-nations’ friendship.
Bagheri, Shariati Feizabadi and Nazarian (2016), in their study ti-
tled “Soft modeling (ISM) of sports diplomacy components” analyzed
data indicated that the components were categorized in three areas of;
bonding (cultural development and amicability), independence (media
interactions, national unity and identication, political development and
ghting isolation), and dependency (dark dimension, economic develop-
ment, branding and international prestige and the development of smart
prestige). Shahrezaei and Shirzadi (2016), in their study titled “The role of
sports in expanding the international terms of IRI”, indicated a more em-
phasis and focus on the sports’ role in developing friendly relationships
and collaborations with other countries and international organizations,
due to the role of cultural factors, soft power and interactions in foreign
policies, as well as an attention to sports as a mean to enhance the coun-
try international prestige by attaining successes and honors in interna-
tional arenas of sports and power presentation.
Jankovic (2017) in his study, titled “Boosting the solutions for inter-
national debates: the role of sports diplomacy”, indicates that not only the
traditional Olympic games but also the football rules show that sports can
work as a supplementary mean to resolve international debates. Schnei-
der (2018), in his research, titled “Sports as a facilitator for international
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estudos internacionais • Belo Horizonte, ISSN 2317-773X, v. 8, n. 2, (jun. 2020), p. 103 - 119
positive relationships” indicated that sports can facilitate the resolution of
global issues positively by improving the international relations. Among
all people and governments, the sport is considered as a proper facilitator
for positive relationships, regardless of the current situation. Sport is con-
sidered as an international joint activity, which can enhance international
interactions, good faith between nations, friendship, and loyalty among
dierent nations. Boyacioglu and Oguz (2016) suggested that sport was
translated into a positive approach and a big mean of sanction in interna-
tional relationships and yet it continues. Thereby, increasing its impacts
on the most important items from the last century up to now, will have
impact on sport games and approximately all over the world and before
Olympic games, and then on other organizations (especially on football).
In fact, sport has played an important role in the test of power and races
between two poles in a warless environment, at that time; because sport
games are considered as wars which do not end in death and indicate the
economic eects of globalization in sports’ industry (BOYACIOĞLU &
OĞUZ, 2016).
Fozooni (2014) in his paper titled “Religion, politics, and social
class: conicts and competition in Iranian football”, investigated the re-
ligion, class, sex and race developments via football in Iran. He knows
football as the representation of IRI government national construct and
considered it as a result of religion power in social classes. Munt (2015) in
his study titled “Game, Set, Match: Sports and the Future of Diplomacy”,
indicated that sports diplomacy is considered as a legitimate base to study
international relations. In his study, he argues that countries sports diplo-
macy provide “soft” relatively opposing relationships. However, in this
research, he tries to remove the objections against this concept and high-
lights it by providing some samples which sports diplomacy can have.
Chehabi (2011), in his research titled “The sports diplomacy between USA
and IRI”, knows the victory of Seyed Mohammad Khatami in Islamic Re-
public of Iran presidential election in 1997 as a starting point for friendly
approach against dierent world countries.
Either in yesterday’s overwhelming atmosphere of pre- The Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action period, or in the context of eorts of west-
ern countries of 5+1 today, in post-JCPOA era, Iran sports could keep alive
some twinkles of hope in boosting diplomatic interactions among these
countries, which can one name the presence of Iranian volleyball players
in the nal stage of volleyball world cup in 2019 in United States (USA),
as the last sample; Since in the last decade, IRI has been attacked dramat-
ically by media and advertisements in international public opinions (ad-
vertisements via projects such as Islamophobia, Shia-phobia, and Irano-
phobia), because of its ideologies to foster revolutionary goals, ideological
conicts against the East and the West, as well as due to its behavioral dif-
ferences in foreign policy eld, developing an appropriate roadmap seems
so necessary to frustrate these attacks and to modify the international im-
age of IRI in the world population minds, especially in Western countries,
more than ever (BAKHSHI CHENARI, GOODARZI, SAJJADI; JALALI
FARAHANI, 2019). The position of USA in international system as well
as the strategic role and position of IRI in the region arose mutual neces-
109
Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
sities to create an appropriate relationship. IRI sports, as an Asian power
could always gain a prominent position in international arena, especially
in volleyball, wrestling, taekwondo, weight lifting and football, up to the
point that in summer Olympic games of London in 2012, IRI stood at the
17
th
rank, which was upper than Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Turkey, etc.
Therefore, in this study we aim to identify the diplomatic dimensions
and capacities of IRI sports, and make use of this bed as a tool to start and
boost the political relations with Western countries, especially USA.
Methodology
This research is considered a survey research in terms of data col-
lecting method, while it is an applied research from its goal perspective.
First, we tried to review the sports diplomacy literature and explore the
most important locutions inuencing the sports diplomacy by the Fuzzy
Delphi Method (FDM) and employing 10 experts. To this end, we devel-
oped a questionnaire and it was given to the experts, so that they could
screen the components and identify their importance. Finally, 33 locu-
tions were approved as indicated in Table 2. The statistical sample in the
second section was based on Cochran formula to calculate the unknown
population volume. The number of people was 170 according to the 5
question Likert scale. Considering the omissions, nally, 318 question-
naires were usable among the total 320 distributed questionnaires. In the
next sections, we employ Kolmogorov–Smirnovtest, Spearman correla-
tion coecient, exploratory factor analysis, as well interpretative struc-
tural models (ISMs) to nd and determine the relations between compo-
nents (which are converted to variables).
Findings
In order to carry out tests in our software, the questionnaires were
distributed among 318 people, whose demographics are depicted in table 1.
Table 1 - Descriptive statistics of quantitative part
No. Demographical parameters Choices Frequency Percentage
1 Sex
Male 176 55.3
Female 142 44.6
2 Marriage status
Single 124 38.9
Married 194 61
3 Education
BS 135 42.4
MS 116 36.4
PhD 67 21
4 Age
Under 30 81 25.4
31 to 40 103 32.3
41 to 50 75 23.5
51 and above 59 18.5
Source: own elaboration
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Before designing the conceptual model of research based on in-
terpretative-structural modeling, rst it is necessary to identify the in-
terested components based on previous studies and experts’ comments.
To do so, in the rst step (i.e. the identication of problem parameters),
the decision-makers’ comments were collected using the 5 Likert scale,
and then a triangular fuzzy number was attributed to factors. Then, the
suggested threshold in literatures was employed to determine each fac-
tor status (accept/reject). 33 locutions in sports were selected to design a
questionnaire. Also, a free question was designed at the end of question-
naire in which the respondents were asked to mention all inuencing
factors that they think of them, as important factors for the research pur-
pose. Second, the questionnaire was used to collect experts’ comments
in decision making groups in order to obtain the relative importance of
inuencing factors and their ranks. Therefore, data collection was car-
ried out in 2 steps. In the rst step, the questionnaire was given to the
members of experts group, and they were asked to mention their ideas
about each measure as oral parameters in the questionnaire. The fuzzy
mean and the explicit fuzzy number were explored according to the
mean calculation formula. Finally, the identied factors were named. In
this step, we tried to answer the question “What are the inuencing fac-
tors in sports diplomacy?” To name the factors, 2 general measures were
used, that is “controllable/incontrollable”, and “general/specic”. First
factor: It includes locutions 2, 3, 15, 17, 23, and 30 which constitute 13.357
percent of the total variance. These factors have the most variance. This
factor includes 6 locutions, as follows:
Step 1: Identifying the problem parameters
The decision-making group comments were collected according
to a 5-points Likert scale, and then the triangular fuzzy number were
attributed to factors. Then, considering the threshold suggested in lit-
eratures, each item status (accept/reject) were determined. 33 locutions
in sports diplomacy were selected to design a questionnaire. Also, a
free question was designed at the end of questionnaire in which the re-
spondents were asked to mention all inuencing factors that they think
of them, as an important factor for the research purpose. Second, the
questionnaire was used to collect experts’ comments in decision mak-
ing groups in order to obtain the relative importance of inuencing
factors and their ranks. Therefore, data collection was carried out in 2
steps. In the rst step, the questionnaire was given to the members of
experts group, and they were asked to mention their ideas about each
measure as oral parameters in the questionnaire. The fuzzy mean and
the explicit fuzzy number were explored according to the mean cal-
culation formula. Finally, 7 factors were identied and named. In this
step, we tried to answer the question “What are the main factors in fa-
cilitating the relations of Iran and USA sports diplomacy?” To name the
factors, 2 general measures were used, that is “controllable/incontrolla-
ble”, and “general/specic”. Finally, 7 factors were identied which are
summarized in table 2.
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Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
Table 2 - Categorized factors using explorative analysis
LocutionExplored Factor
Sports diplomacy is a tool to indicate a real picture of Iranians to the world.
Civilization
Sports can lead to boost world population interactions.
Indigenous, local and traditional sports create an appropriate platform to develop revolution discourse.
Sport is a tool with which one country people can stand against the other.
Sport can develop the cultural relations between countries’ population.
Sport events play the main role to improve public diplomacy between IRI and USA.
International sport events in USA are much less covered compared to IRI.
Comprehensive and general understanding and interactions with western countries, is considered as a prere-
quisite for sports diplomacy development.
The governmental and state laws prohibit the realization of sports diplomacy goals in Iran.
Governmental
Issues
Sport is a tool to develop diplomatic relations.
A country attendance in sport events can take a country out of political and geopolitical isolation.
Sport can help to reconstruct internal agencies.
Sport is a tool to promote power and dominance.
Countries try to gain their broad goals via sports.
Sport can create a platform in which the political geography can approximate natural geography.
Sport helps to improve foreign relations and enhance between governments’ understanding.Friendship
Sports can be considered as an alternative for war and military diplomacy.
Sports are a reason for psychological wars among governments.
Sport is a tool against doping, race, tribal, regional and class diversity.
Sports can soften and normalize the relationship between two countries which have cold opposing political atmosphere.
Sport is an appropriate atmosphere to influence public opinions.Cohesion
Sport is source for conflicts and discrepancies between countries.
Sport diplomacy between countries requires a change in between-societies hostilities and mutual bonds.
Sport teaches leadership, team working, respecting to rules, and mutual respects.
Sport can lead to countries’ consistent development.Financial
Sport increases the economic outcomes.
Sport can create mutual consistent relationships and leads to development.
Sport is a reason for a revolution in communications and information.Conversion
Sport plays an important role in political, social, and economic life of different countries’ population.
Sport’s role is beyond a body activity and includes various social, educational, cultural, political, and economic functions.
Sports diplomacy is affected by religion and political ideology. Devout
Sport decreases the religion varieties.
Source: own elaboration
In the second step, we constructed the structural self-interactive
matrix. It is constructed of sports diplomacy dimensions and components
and their comparison, using four states of conceptual relationships.
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Table 3 - Structural self-interactive matrix for factors influencing sports diplomacy
i j 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Governmental Issues X V X X V V V
2 Devout A X X X V V A
3 Conversion X X X V V V V
4 Civilization X X A X V V V
5 Cohesion A A A X X X V
6 Friendship A V A X X X X
7 Financial A A A A A A X
Source: own elaboration
In the 3
rd
and 4
th
steps, the primal and nal matrixes were built:
Table 4 - The primal and final matrixes
i j 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Influence power
1 Governmental Issues 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
2 Devout 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 6
3 Conversion 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 5
4 Civilization 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 5
5 Cohesion 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 4
6 Friendship 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 3
7 Financial 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
The degree of correlation 3 4 3 6 5 6 6 30
Source: own elaboration
In the 5
th
step, following the determination of attainment set as well as
the prerequisite of each parameter, the common elements in the attainment
set and prerequisite for each parameter were identied. After determining
the prerequisite and attainment sets as well as common elements, it was the
time for determining parameters’ (elements) levels. In the rst table, those
parameters have the highest level, whose attainment set is equal to the com-
mon elements. After determining this (these) parameter(s), we will elimi-
nate them from the table and will form the next table by other remained
parameters. Like the rst table, we determine the 2
nd
level parameter in the
2
nd
table, and will continue until all parameters’ levels are determined.
Table 5 - Determining the parameters’ levels
Dimension(s) Attainment set Prerequisite set Common elements Leveling
1 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 4-2-1 4-3-2-1 3th level
2 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 4-3-2-1 4-3-2-1 4th level
3 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 4-3-2-1 4-3-2-1 4th level
4 6-5-4-2-1 3-2-1 4-3-2-1 3rd level
5 7-6-5-4 6-5-4-3-2-1 6-5-4 2nd level
6 7-6-5-4 6-5-4-3-2-1 6-5-4 2nd level
7 7 6-5-4-3-2-1-7 7 1st level
Source: own elaboration
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Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
In the next step, following the determination of relationships and
parameters’ level, the primary model was developed. To do this, rst we
sort the parameters according to their level, from the lowest to the highest.
In the current model, the parameters have been classied in 4 levels. At the
topmost level, the economic development model can be seen, which is af-
fected most (correlation factor). At the lowest level, are located political cir-
cles, and reforms and communications, which act as the model base. The
model starts with these parameters and then leads to other ones. At the
next levels, are located other components, which can be seen in gure 1.
Figure 1 - Extracted model from interpretative-structural modeling
Source: own elaboration
In the 7
th
step, the analysis of inuencing power and the correlation
degree has been carried out, using MICMAC diagram. We can dene a
coordinate system based on the correlation degree and parameters inu-
encing power and divide it to 4 equal parts. In this study, some parame-
ters are located under the driving subgroup, which has a high inuencing
power a low correlation power. Located in the next group are dependent
parameters which are somehow the results of the product development
process, and are less able to lead to other parameters. All the results are
depicted in the following gure and table.
Table 6 - The level of influencing power and correlation of parameters
Parameters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Influencing power 7 7 7 6 4 4 1
Correlation power 4 4 4 3 6 6 7
Source: own elaboration
114
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Figure 2 - Influencing power and correlation of parameters
Source: own elaboration
Path analysis and Hypothesis tests
In order to investigate the relationship between research param-
eters, we rst assess the relationship between these parameters using
Spearman’s correlation coecient, in order to primarily investigate the
relationships. Spearman’s correlation coecient can provide an overview
of the relationship between the two main research parameters. The re-
sults of correlation test showed that all relationships are signicant at
99% condence level (0.01% error) and the change direction is the same.
So, the Null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis (i.e. a
signicant relationship) is conrmed, and each two research parameters
are correlated positively and signicantly.
Table 7 - Correlation matrix for research parameters
Parameters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Governmental Issues
correlation
1
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Significance ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Conversion
correlation 0.318
1
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Significance 0.000 ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Devout
correlation 0.403 0.247
1
----- ----- ----- -----
Significance 0.000 0.000 ----- ----- ----- -----
Civilization
correlation 0.458 0.539 0.330
1
----- ----- -----
Significance 0.000 0.000 0.000 ----- ----- -----
Cohesion
correlation 0.617 0.416 0.362 0.479
1
----- -----
Significance 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 ----- -----
Friendship
correlation 0.34 0.566 0.375 0.571 0.405
1
-----
Significance 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 -----
Financial
correlation 0.404 0.273 0.365 0.310 0.33 0.357
1
Significance 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Source: own elaboration
115
Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
After the identication of dependent and independent parameters,
now we investigate the relationship between parameters, using structur-
al equations model in PLS software. Codes can be seen in the software
output, each of them indicates a parameter. The parameters are shown
as follows: Governmental Issues as GI, Civilization as CI, Conversion as
CO, Devout as DE, Cohesion as CO, Friendship as FR, and Financial as
FI. The essential criterion for assessing the latent endogenous parameters
is R
2
deterministic coecient. The value of R
2
(0.67, 0.33, and 0.19) in path
models of PLS is considerable, medium, and weak, respectively. As can
be seen, this value is equal to 0.463 for friendship parameter, 0.445 for co-
hesion parameter, which are considerable. It is equal to 0.162 for nancial
which is categorized as weak. Figure 3 indicates the research conceptual
model following the determination of between-parameters relationship.
Figure 3 - Research conceptual model plotted by the software
Source: own elaboration
In order to assess the validity of measurement tool, we have used
the converging validation by Fournel and Larker measure (i.e. the vari-
ance mean has been explored). The least AVE of 0.5 indicated sucient
convergence. That is, a latent parameter can explain more than a half of
its dening dispersion. The mean values of explored variance are reported
as civilization (0.732), nancial (0.809), cohesion (0.735), friendship (0.685),
governmental issues (0.647), conversion (0.710), and devout (0.849). As can
be seen, the explored mean value for the latent parameter in reective
model is higher than 0.4, which indicates the desired converging validity
of the measurement model.
Finally, we used the PLS software ® to assess the research model.
We have also used non-parametric test of bootstrap (TENENHAUS et
al., 2005) with 500 repetitions to estimate the standard errors and testing
hypothesis. The essential criterion for assessing the latent endogenous
parameters is R
2
deterministic coecient. The value of R
2
(0.67, 0.33, and
0.19) in path models of PLS is considerable, medium, and weak, respec-
tively (AZAR et al., 2012). As can be seen, this value is 0.919 for civiliza-
tion, which is considered considerable, and is 0.326 and 0.2 for friendship,
and cohesion parameters, respectively which are considered as medium.
As well, it is equal to 0.16 for nancial which is considered as weak. Each
path coecient in PLS structural model can be considered equal to a
standardized beta coecient in usual least squares regressions.
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estudos internacionais • Belo Horizonte, ISSN 2317-773X, v. 8, n. 2, (jun. 2020), p. 103 - 119
Figure 4 - Model in structural path coefficients state
Source: own elaboration
*CI: Civilization, DE: Devout, GI: Governmental Issues, CO: Conversion, FE: Friendship,
CH: Cohesion, FI: Financial
Figure 5 - Model in significant numbers state
Source: own elaboration
*CI: Civilization, DE: Devout, GI: Governmental Issues, CO: Conversion, FE: Friendship,
CH: Cohesion, FI: Financial
As can be seen from the research structural model, there exists a
positive and signicant relationship between governmental issues, de-
vout, conversion parameters, and the cohesion parameter, according to
the signicance numbers and between-parameters’ relationships struc-
tural coecient. In addition, there also exists a positive and signicant
relationship between civilization and friendship parameters and cohesion
parameter. Finally, there is a signicant and positive relationship between
the two parameters of cohesion and friendship, with nancial.
117
Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
Discussion and conclusion
According to the research ndings, we explored 7 factors related to
Iran sports diplomacy. Among these 7 factors, the governmental issues
and civilization are inseparable components of sports diplomacy, that if
are accompanied, could be considered as “soft power” generating factor
against USA. Although some believe that sports act as a tool for politi-
cians (NAURIGHT; SCHIMMEL, 2005), sports diplomacy can move in
a separate way, so that avoid political challenges. Sports diplomacy can
mitigate the political stress between IRI and USA through its valuable
and popular nature, as sports promote a sense of respect and mutual hap-
piness, per se. Sports diplomacy can also play a role in the evolution of mi-
cro-cultures and civilization values between the two countries. Not only
by gathering dierent countries people altogether, and the evolution of
such micro-cultures, the constructive and eective interaction between
IRI and USA governments are formed, but also it provides conditions
for “civilization” between the two countries’ people, and as Sabbaghian
(2016) suggested, after a short while, political and cultural successes will
arise between the two countries. In this regard, it seems that IRI must try
to use various civilization methods and tools to take appropriate actions
to distress, remove its negative images, make positive images of itself,
and recognize itself for American people. With regard to sports diplo-
macy critical role in making peace and friendship among countries, IRI
must reduce its tendency to use military and threatening tools, and open
direct conversation doors in the light of sports diplomacy. On the other
hand, having friendly relationships with other countries can smooth the
way for the other important tool for implementing the sports diplomacy,
that is hosting sports events.
Another important point of this research is that dierent sports di-
plomacy components are interrelated, and as the results of Spearman’s
correlation test veried the signicant and positive relationships between
components, in the case of a change in one, the other will also be changed.
For example, the passion of Iranians to wrestling was a key element for
US policy makers to send the rst Americans in a shape of wrestling team
after Islamic revolution in 1997 that was concluded to “Sport Diplomacy”.
Therefore, sports diplomacy may lead to gain a wide range of social, po-
litical, and economic goal in IRI.
Next, the result showed that nancial factor is known as one of the
most important components of sports diplomacy. Sports can be a part
of Iran macro-economy and have a large share of the country revenue.
Today, sport is not only considered as a body activity and entertainment,
but also can boom a protable industry. Theoretical literature indicat-
ed that many countries that holds sport events, make a lot of money for
themselves besides introducing their countries to others (SAJJADI, 2000).
Therefore, in the light of sports, IRI can provide opportunities to extend
her collaborations with USA and so, she could exploit her right to host
sport events. In this way she could partly create employment to resolve
some of her economic issues, and create a positive commercial balance.
Brazil, Germany, South Africa, and Russia are sample who hosted cred-
118
estudos internacionais • Belo Horizonte, ISSN 2317-773X, v. 8, n. 2, (jun. 2020), p. 103 - 119
ible world games, not long time ago and as such they tried to introduce
themselves as standard countries. One of the research’s interested com-
ponents was national unication. This parameter can both aect other
parameters and can be also aected by them. Sport games are an indica-
tive of the cohesion and empathy of dierent countries’ people. Playing
national anthems during games, especially in the case of victories, is an
indicative of athletics and participants’ empathy which induce the sense
of national pride and patriotism. Sports diplomacy indicated that govern-
ments decide their foreign policies according to their people opinions,
and only if people are satised, they could reach unication and integrity.
Thus, one can say that not only sports diplomacy creates empathy and
unication between people, but it also changes the relationship between
the governments and their population.
Evidences indicate that sports have advanced the relationship be-
tween IRI and USA. For example, the USA wrestling team attendance
in Takhti wrestling cup in 1998 for the rst time after the interruption
of the two countries’ relationships, the football match between IRI and
USA in the same year -which was since referred to as football diplo-
macy, and with the USA president message led to the nations close-
ness- and/or American wrestler attendance in Khalij Fars cup in 1385
-in which Iranian students welcome them- are all samples which show
some opportunities to improve the relationships between these two
countries. Therefore, one can say that sports diplomacy in Iran must
act as a diplomatic and cultural mean to build trust, convince, and at-
tract American athletics and people, instead of being as an advertising
weapon to create credits to reach the country political objectives and
goals (KHABIRI, 2014). Moreover, considering the huge negative ad-
vertisements forced by USA against IRI, leveraging sports diplomacy
promotion tools, such as sports messengers, holding exhibition games
as well as sports tourism can somehow reduce this huge amount of neg-
ative advertisements, and links both people and governments of these
two countries. By creating a sense of peace and friendship between USA
and IRI, sports diplomacy can provide opportunities to reduce stresses
and negative advertisements against Iran. It can even convince world
public media to induce a positive perspective to the world, in the light
of sports and their valuableness and popularity.
At the end, the present study suggests to address the assessment
of these two countries activities during the past 40 years, so that it could
be clear that how much were these activities and actions succeed in
meeting IRI goals, national interests and Islamic expedience, to realize
Iran diplomatic goals. At the next step, is located the development of
a roadmap for IRI sports diplomacy with regard to USA, in order to
evaluate capacities, challenges, goals and Iran’s foreign policy prefer-
ences as well as the current situation of sports diplomacy. At the 3
rd
step, it is necessary to establish an organization to organize Iran’s sports
activities regarding the USA and, nally, resuming formal diplomatic
relationships between the two countries and employing professional
and capable sports diplomats in the form of embassies, dependents, or
sports consultants in these countries.
119
Amir Hosein Monazzami e Mahdi Sharia Feizabadi The Facilitang role of sport in foreign relaons of the US and Iran
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