interpretative structural modeling (ism) of sport diplomacy components

the aim of this study was to design interpretative structural model (ism) of the components of sport diplomacy. the present study was applied in terms of aims and descriptive with regard to data collection. with review of related literature and qualitative interviews (content analysis) with 13 iranian and foreign experts of sport diplomacy, components and items of sport diplomacy were identified. in the next phase, 7 experts' opinions were used to validate interpretive modeling and to analyze micmac. after data analysis, the components of sport diplomacy were categorized into 7 classes and ism graph was designed based on these classes. 'cultural development' was located at the first class while ' branding and international prestige' was in the last class. after micmac analysis, the components were classified into 3 sections based on their influence and dependency power: linked (cultural development, peace and friendship), independent (media communications, national unity and identity, political development, anti-isolation) and dependent (dark side, economic development, branding and international prestige and smart power development).