L’éducation physique au service de la nation: Ling, l’Institut central royal de gymnastique et l’enseignement primaire en Suède au xixe siècle

Translated title of the contribution: Physical education in the service of the nation: Ling, the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics and primary education in Sweden in the nineteenth century

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Abstract

In this chapter, I will provide an introduction to this international context of physical education by presenting the historical emergence of the Swedish gymnastics. In focus of the chapter stands the early efforts by Pehr Henrik Ling to establish gymnastics in Sweden and the historical context that enabled the creation of a tradition of Ling gymnastics. In this respect, the role of nineteenth century national sentiments and perceptions of masculinity will de discussed, alongside the role of discourses on health and the development of the Swedish educational system. As is evident from this chapter, the formal character of Ling gymnastics can be partly attributed to this context. Here, I also emphasize how this vision of gymnastics was allowed to be developed in an institution of its own that had strong ties to both the school system and the Swedish military: The Royal Central Gymnastic Institute. Since this institution together with the historical context was vital for the creation of this format of gymnastics, Ling gymnastics is probably best denoted as Swedish gymnastics or, even better, the gymnastics of the central gymnastic institute.
Translated title of the contributionPhysical education in the service of the nation: Ling, the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics and primary education in Sweden in the nineteenth century
Original languageFrench
Title of host publicationLa fabrique des corps nationaux
Subtitle of host publicationAutour de l’institutionnalisation de l’éducation physique en Suisse et en Europe (XIXe-XXIe siècle)
EditorsIngrid Brühwiler, Rebekka Horlacher, Grégory Quin, Johannes Westberg
Publisher Éditions Alphil-Presses universitaires suisses
Pages105-124
Number of pages20
ISBN (Electronic)978-2-88930-487-5, 978-2-88930-488-2
ISBN (Print)978-2-88930-486-8
Publication statusPublished - 2023

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