 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | The global power of soccer might be a little hard for Americans, living in a country that views the game with the same skepticism used for the metric system and the threat of killer bees, to grasp fully. But in Europe, South America, and elsewhere, soccer is not merely a pastime but often an expression of the social, economic, political, and racial composition of the communities that host both the teams and their throngs of enthusiastic fans. New Republic editor Franklin Foer, a lifelong devotee of soccer dating from his own inept youth playing days to an adulthood of obsessive fandom, examines soccer's role in various cultures as a means of examining the reach of globalization. Foer's approach is long on soccer reportage, providing extensive history and fascinating interviews on the Rangers-Celtic rivalry and the inner workings of AC Milan, and light on direct discussion of issues like world trade and the exportation of Western culture. But by creating such a compelling narrative of soccer around the planet, Foer draws the reader into these sport-mad societies, and subtly provides the explanations he promises in chapters with titles like "How Soccer Explains the New Oligarchs", "How Soccer Explains Islam's Hope", and "How Soccer Explains the Sentimental Hooligan." Foer's own passion for the game gives his book an infectious energy but still pales in comparison to the religious fervor of his subjects. His portraits of legendary hooligans in Serbia and Britain, in particular, make the most die-hard roughneck New York Yankees fan look like a choirboy in comparison. Beyond the thugs, Foer also profiles Nigerian players living in the Ukraine, Iranian women struggling against strict edicts to attend matches, and the parallel worlds of Brazilian soccer and politics from which Pele emerged and returned. Foer posits that globalization has eliminated neither local cultural identities nor violent hatred among fans of rival teams, and it has not washed out local businesses in a sea of corporate wealth nor has it quelled rampant local corruption. Readers with an interest in international economics are sure to like How Soccer Explains the World, but soccer fans will love it. --John Moe |
Average Customer Rating:    Good Idea, bad execution I have to admit, some of the parts of this book have lingered with me, having read it over 5 years ago. The excerpt about being on a boat with Irish fans traveling to watch Celtic vs Rangers was escpecially fascinating.
I have to say, however, that I was completely deflated by the chapter on Iran, which was based entirely on someone else's PHD thesis. If I'm forking out good money on a book about soccer globalization, the author should have at least taken the time to go to Iran himself and interview people. As an Jewish American, however, Foer was probably not looking forward to that trip.
Foer is a pretty decent writer, and I breezed through most of the book, which says a lot. But he is not a seasoned investigative reporter yet, and that shows. A good first effort, and perhaps better stuff ahead from the author. starts well but goes off the rail too quickly I like the opening chapters about Red Star Belgrade and the Glasgow rivalry but think he lost his way when he banging on about the all Jewish team and the whole Chelsea bad boys part. Could have been worse I suppose, I could have spent money on it. As it was I got it from the local library.
soccer and globalization Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide. This book is about explaining the world with a phenomenon that is common to most citizens of the world - an important and timely attempt given voices for and against globalization. And, soccer does indeed explain the world in varied and all interesting ways. Following below is a sampler.
One important aspect of globalization is the localization of international space. However, since spatial localization is not synonymous with assimilation, globalization has tended to magnify existing differences, and thereby intensifying and/or igniting intergroup violence of all kinds. The violence perpetuated and endured by the fans of the Celtic (Irish) and Rangers (Scottish) soccer clubs are extensions of the age-old Catholic-Protestant hatred. This violence persists even as both clubs now hire foreigner players of opposing religious denominations. For examples, the Rangers has had many Catholic players from Latin American countries on its roster.
The chapter on "how soccer explains the Jewish question" has important educational information. Did you know that in the 1920s in Vienna there was an all-Jewish soccer club called Hakoah? At one point Hakoah dominated the Austrian soccer league and facilitated the emergence of "muskeljudentum (muscular Judaism)" as a cure for "Judendot (Jewish distress" (p. 69). The Nazis later used this success both against the Jews and in support of their propaganda that Jews were being treated humanely in concentration camps. Did you know the Dutch club Ajax has supported Jewish causes off and on the pitch for many years; or that Tottenham Hotspurs (London) continue to suffer association with Jewishness just because orthodox Jews lived in that neighborhood before World War II? Very interesting history lessons!
The same globalization that brought black (mainly African) players to European professional soccer is the same globalization that allows hatred towards the same players as demonstrated by "ape noises and racist taunts" during games, most recently in Spain (p. 85). Ostensibly the world as explained by soccer is internally inconsistent as soccer hooliganism (Europe) and corrupt tophatism (Brazil) illustrate. The clash between old and new money-sponsored soccer, as represented by the Juventus-Agnelli-Fiat vis-à-vis AC Millan-Berlusconi competition in Italy, is another palatable example of the ugly internal inconsistence. And there is the Barcelona and Real Madrid rivalry that also goes deeper than futbol. Thus, soccer reveals that the world is externally global and internally tribal.
Across the Muslim world, as the example of Iran demonstrates, soccer has played a modernizing role. However, modernization is change, and change and tradition are natural enemies. In North America soccer explains the divide between the suburban (soccer mom) culture dominated by golf, tennis, and hokey, and the "ghetto" culture ruled by basketball, baseball , football, and boxing. Each camp considers the other primitive and undeserving of the attention it gets.
The book is disappointingly silent here about what soccer says about globalization in Africa, Far East Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. That is too bad because these regions export many footballers. Even so, I still rate the book high and will keep my copy.
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Soccer This book was found in a collection of the "greatest books selections" included in THIS WEEK magazine. I was pleased to find it at Amazon and have enjoyed reading it. Informative, a lot of information and food for thought. I recommend it. good but not great just finished this on my kindle. a must if you like soccer. the fc barcelona chapter is outstanding. it leaves a scary feeling knowing there is still so much hatred around the world |  |
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