How Soccer Explains The World: An Unlikely Theory Of Globalization

Soccer is much more than a game, or even a way of life. Its a perfect window into the crosscurrents of todays world, with all its joys and sorrows. In this remarkably insightful, wide-ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything in between. How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.

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 soccers role in various cultures as a means of examining the reach of globalization. Foers 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 Islams Hope””, and “”How Soccer Explains the Sentimental Hooligan.”” Foers 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

Reviews

This book is a pretty blatant knock-off of an earlier (and better-written) book, Football Against the Enemy by Simon Kuper. Thats the better book to buy. While I dont fault the author for wanting to cash in, it would be nice if he at least would acknowledge the inspiration for this book, rather than lamely pass it off as his own “”theory””. (Someone might also want to tell him that this is a hypothesis, not a theory.)
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 elses PHD thesis. If Im 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