Program Overview
Program Overview
The contributions that Dominicans have made to the sport of baseball on an international scale are undeniable. Yet to an international audience, Dominican baseball is often steeped in both myth and controversy, underscored by the people’s lack of autonomy over the game itself and their participation in it. Stories abound of young boys from humble families finding glory on the diamond and of boys encouraged to drop out of school to focus on baseball. The latter challenges the goodwill status of a sport that, for many, represents society’s strongest ideals. During this seminar, we’ll explore the complex topic of baseball in the Dominican Republic from many angles, leading participants through the economic, cultural, political, and social impacts of the sport as they relate to both Major League Baseball’s presence in the country and Dominican people’s control over the game.
Program Activities
Program Activities
Lectures, dialogues, and community engagement:
Participants will experience and view baseball and the baseball industry from various perspectives and in the diverse settings where the game takes place. Participants will also hear from professionals who work in the baseball industry and enjoy significant access to the social actors—international administrators, local trainers, aspiring athletes, entrepreneurs, and fans—involved in baseball in the Dominican Republic.
This seminar is experiential in nature and will expose participants to the baseball industry and baseball culture in the Dominican Republic. It will also offer an opportunity for open analysis and debates surrounding the various themes, controversies, and challenges explored during the program.
Program Objectives
Program Objectives
During this seminar, participants will:
- Interact and engage with various tiers of Dominican society involved in the baseball industry to understand the economic and social impact of baseball’s globalized forces.
- Observe a familiar cultural phenomenon (baseball) through an unfamiliar cultural context to see how cross-cultural interpretations can both enrich and challenge our understanding of society and globalization.
- Observe the reality of baseball and the sports world in the Dominican Republic—a reality that is often either ignored or misunderstood by outsiders.
Seminar Locations
Seminar Locations
Based in Santo Domingo and surrounding area with excursions to San Pedro de Macoris and Boca Chica; participants fly in and out of Santo Domingo.