Sport and the American Occupation of the Philippines - by Gerald R Gems (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This interdisciplinary case study invokes historical, sociological, and anthropological means to examine the ascendance of the United States to a world power in its first imperial venture. In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War of 1898 the U.S. acquired and occupied the Philippine Islands for nearly a half century in an attempt to install a democratic form of government, a capitalist economy, the Protestant religion, and a particular value system. Sport became a primary means to achieve such goals, fostered initially by the military, and then widely promoted in the schools and the YMCA. Competitive programs, including international athletic spectacles, channeled Filipino nationalism against Asian rivals rather than the American occupiers as guerrilla warfare ensued in the islands. The strategies learned in the Philippines, now known as "soft power" remain prominent factors in current American foreign policy.

Review Quotes

"Sport and the American Occupation of the Philippines is notable for making events come alive and for bringing important figures of history down from the pedestal to portray them as human beings whose lives and personalities are often flawed and multifaceted. The author manages to reveal interesting insights into many well-known individuals' overall characters, as well as their contemporaries' opinion of them, making the discussion very informative and engaging. . . Moreover, the author does not just highlight the specific sports that these important historical figures played or followed but also links their personalities to the sociopsychological and moral structures that are associated with sports. By turning politicians into fencers and generals into football players, Gems successfully presents the embeddedness of sports not only in history but also in the individual biographies of its main characters." --Journal of Sport History

"Gerald R. Gems is one of the most ardent researchers and productive scholars in sport history. In this study he examines the negative impact of the half century of American control of the Philippines. Gems focuses on how sport--a presumably uplifting institution--negatively influenced local life, promoting racism and sexism in such areas as politics, education, economics, and gender relations. This is likely the most thorough study written of how American sport was misused overseas in one location to reshape the culture, patterns of beliefs, and value systems of indigenous people. Gems show that American rule had a very damaging impact on the subjugated Philippine people." --Steven A. Riess, Northeastern Illinois University

"Scholars have shown us many ways in which the histories of the United States and the Philippines have been intertwined since the dawn of the twentieth century. Few besides Gerald R. Gems, however, have so lucidly illuminated the footprints the United States has left on its former colony through this unlikely analytical lens: sports. This is a must read for those who seek to understand both the hard and soft power entailed in the almost half-century of U.S. presence in the Asian colony." --Sayuri Guthrie-Shimizu, Rice University

"Leave it to Gerald R. Gems to explore a largely unexplored corner of sport history. In this book, he examines how imperialism and racism interweaved with sport in America's efforts to establish and maintain a colonial presence in the Philippines for nearly a half a century. Sport and the American Occupation of the Philippines: Bats, Balls, and Bayonets should be read by anyone interested in sport and American and Asian/Pacific history." --Joel S. Franks, San Jose State University

"Gerald R. Gems has written a terrific book that examines the role of sport during the American occupation of the Philippines. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, Gems adroitly and in great detail makes clear the role of sport in regards to the policies and programs intended for Filipinos. This is essential reading for those interested in a greater understanding of sport, America, the Philippines, and international relations." --David K. Wiggins, George Mason University

About the Author

Gerald R. Gems is professor at North Central College.