How Soccer Explains The World
Analysis Essay The effects of globalization shown in How Soccer Explains The World, is like the response from the Industrial Revolution. Globalization is best defined as the interaction and assimilation between people, corporations, and governments. The process of globalization began when the first humans took their ideas, customs, and products out of Africa and into different parts of the world. As globalization occurs, there are many different effects that are both positive and negative. Globalization stimulated violence with the Serbian professional soccer club, Red Star. The fans of Red Star have a large influence on the club because they have adopted gangsterism to intimidate players, fans, and coaches (Page 7). A more substantial
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example of the influence that fans enacted on soccer clubs and government, would best be shown through Arkan. Arkan was a military leader that influenced Red Star and their violent fans by creating his own hooligan army. The government would support Arkan’s army so they could terrorize Muslim and Croatian civilians into fleeing territories the Serbs hoped to control (Page 21). After the war, Arkan bought his own club, Oblic, because Red Star refused his purchase due to the fact that he was too dangerous. He was later assassinated, which was ironic because he used soccer to destroy lives when soccer destroyed his life (Page 28). After Arkan’s death there were “subtle signs of discomfort with national culture of gangsterism” (Page 34). Presently, the fans of Red Star are still well known for their violence through soccer. In the future, the presence of gangsterism will die off, as Serbian citizen become more uncomfortable with it. In Brazil, bad parts globalization undermined the good parts of globalization.
The Brazilian style of play is much more aesthetically pleasing than any other brand of soccer play (Page 120). This style of play was first introduced to the world by the king of soccer, Pelé. It enticed money hungry investors to invest their money in promising Brazilian clubs. It was great to see how globalization allowed corporations and companies to promote themselves in a different country. However, corruption caught the best of it, as greedy cartolas, scoundrels that have grown so integral to the Brazilian game, took the money that belonged to the soccer clubs (Page 117). A great example is the Eurico Miranda, who is the club president of Vasco da Gama. The NationsBank granted Vasco da Gama $34 million to establish a name for itself in the popular Brazilian sport (Page 117). A sum of money that was supposed to last the club a 100 years nearly vanished after two years (Page 117). Miranda stole money that belong to Vasco da Gama, and it put the club into a tremendous amount of debt. To worsen the problem, rising Brazilian superstars were sold to European soccer clubs, not because of the higher paycheck, but to escape the capricious rule of the cartolas (Page 121). Presently, Brazil still faces the same problems, while recovering from corruption within their soccer clubs. However, with the income of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, Brazil could help their financial
problems. It may take many years, but in the future, Brazil can overcome the negative aspects that globalization has brought to them. Barcelona, located in Catalonia, grew into an industrial giant as it became a great trading city entangled in global economy (Page 199). FC Barcelona rested heavily in cosmopolitan nationalism. This belief was that people would love their country without desiring to dominate other groups or completely closing themselves off from foreign impulses (Page 199). With this adopted belief, FC Barcelona encouraged fans that they could love a club and country without turning into a thug or terrorist (Page 197). However, the globalized club of Barcelona faced many problems with the Spanish government as they wanted to rid Catalanism. Catalanism was the idea that citizenship is acquired, not inherited (Page 209). Miguel Primo de Rivera, the Spanish dictator, purged the Catalan flag and language. Barcelona faced the same repression because of Catalan symbolic role in the club (Page 201). The Spanish government supported Real Madrid because it was located in the heart of Spain and they believed in Castilianism. The famous rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, developed because of the fight against Catalans and Castilians. Despite the hostility from the Spanish government, FC Barcelona is one of the best well known and supported club in the world. Presently, Barcelona is able to encourage their fans through the ideologies that the club is based upon. In the future, Barcelona will still hold true to the beliefs that built their club because they are centered around it. Globalization has been a part of the world since the first people left Africa to find new homelands. Both positive and negative aspects are relative with globalization. On a negative basis, it is the root cause behind the violence and gangs in Serbia. Globalizing in Brazil was a good thing, but it turned out to be harmful as corruption arose. In Barcelona, globalization spurred ideologies that would shift and change our world for the better. It truly makes one think about the underlying meaning behind the statement that soccer is more than just a game, it is a way of life.
example of the influence that fans enacted on soccer clubs and government, would best be shown through Arkan. Arkan was a military leader that influenced Red Star and their violent fans by creating his own hooligan army. The government would support Arkan’s army so they could terrorize Muslim and Croatian civilians into fleeing territories the Serbs hoped to control (Page 21). After the war, Arkan bought his own club, Oblic, because Red Star refused his purchase due to the fact that he was too dangerous. He was later assassinated, which was ironic because he used soccer to destroy lives when soccer destroyed his life (Page 28). After Arkan’s death there were “subtle signs of discomfort with national culture of gangsterism” (Page 34). Presently, the fans of Red Star are still well known for their violence through soccer. In the future, the presence of gangsterism will die off, as Serbian citizen become more uncomfortable with it. In Brazil, bad parts globalization undermined the good parts of globalization.
The Brazilian style of play is much more aesthetically pleasing than any other brand of soccer play (Page 120). This style of play was first introduced to the world by the king of soccer, Pelé. It enticed money hungry investors to invest their money in promising Brazilian clubs. It was great to see how globalization allowed corporations and companies to promote themselves in a different country. However, corruption caught the best of it, as greedy cartolas, scoundrels that have grown so integral to the Brazilian game, took the money that belonged to the soccer clubs (Page 117). A great example is the Eurico Miranda, who is the club president of Vasco da Gama. The NationsBank granted Vasco da Gama $34 million to establish a name for itself in the popular Brazilian sport (Page 117). A sum of money that was supposed to last the club a 100 years nearly vanished after two years (Page 117). Miranda stole money that belong to Vasco da Gama, and it put the club into a tremendous amount of debt. To worsen the problem, rising Brazilian superstars were sold to European soccer clubs, not because of the higher paycheck, but to escape the capricious rule of the cartolas (Page 121). Presently, Brazil still faces the same problems, while recovering from corruption within their soccer clubs. However, with the income of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, Brazil could help their financial
problems. It may take many years, but in the future, Brazil can overcome the negative aspects that globalization has brought to them. Barcelona, located in Catalonia, grew into an industrial giant as it became a great trading city entangled in global economy (Page 199). FC Barcelona rested heavily in cosmopolitan nationalism. This belief was that people would love their country without desiring to dominate other groups or completely closing themselves off from foreign impulses (Page 199). With this adopted belief, FC Barcelona encouraged fans that they could love a club and country without turning into a thug or terrorist (Page 197). However, the globalized club of Barcelona faced many problems with the Spanish government as they wanted to rid Catalanism. Catalanism was the idea that citizenship is acquired, not inherited (Page 209). Miguel Primo de Rivera, the Spanish dictator, purged the Catalan flag and language. Barcelona faced the same repression because of Catalan symbolic role in the club (Page 201). The Spanish government supported Real Madrid because it was located in the heart of Spain and they believed in Castilianism. The famous rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, developed because of the fight against Catalans and Castilians. Despite the hostility from the Spanish government, FC Barcelona is one of the best well known and supported club in the world. Presently, Barcelona is able to encourage their fans through the ideologies that the club is based upon. In the future, Barcelona will still hold true to the beliefs that built their club because they are centered around it. Globalization has been a part of the world since the first people left Africa to find new homelands. Both positive and negative aspects are relative with globalization. On a negative basis, it is the root cause behind the violence and gangs in Serbia. Globalizing in Brazil was a good thing, but it turned out to be harmful as corruption arose. In Barcelona, globalization spurred ideologies that would shift and change our world for the better. It truly makes one think about the underlying meaning behind the statement that soccer is more than just a game, it is a way of life.