Sean Jacobs | Eleven Named People: Global Sport and Society
Drawing on Eric Hobsbawm's claim that “the imagined community of millions seems more real as a team of eleven named people,” this talk explores the power of sports teams. Using examples from post-apartheid South Africa and elsewhere, Jacobs asks: Can sports teams expand the boundaries of “the nation,” or can they really overcome xenophobia? Or does sport's celebrated power ultimately reveal the limits of nationalism and identity?
About the speaker
Sean Jacobs is a South African-born scholar and writer, trained in political science and culture and media studies. He spent 20 years at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (2005–09) and The New School (2009–26), where he became a tenured full professor, before becoming an independent author this year. He founded and long edited Africa Is a Country and recently launched Eleven Named People, inspired by Eric Hobsbawm, exploring the intersections of sport and politics globally. He is writing a biography of NEA Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim and recently published a…
Event interval: Single day event. Campus location: Communications Building (CMU). Campus room: CMU 120. Accessibility Contact: globalsportlab@uw.edu. Event Types: Lectures/Seminars. Special Events.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.