Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Power, and Politics: A Socio-Historical Analysis

How can Global Sporting Governing Bodies (GSGBs) like the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) take a stand on political issues in places where a sporting event which comes under their aegis is being held without compromising their own position as neutral governing bodies of sport? Drawing upon a historical sociological approach and using the FIA and the Formula 1 world motorsport championship as its key example, this paper argues that one reason why controversy about this is growing is because FIA's current power structures were established in an era less suited to today's world of sports and stakeholdership. In order to change, we need to review the historical processes that shaped current power relations between the GSGB and its stakeholders and, through that, identify an alternative view of power which may resolve the dilemma which the relation between sport and politics currently throws up.