For millions of people around the globe, football is an important part of everyday life. Similarly, many African governments have found in international football competitions one of the few opportunities to be internationally represented. Furthermore, through successful participation of their respective national football sides, they internally seek to foster nationhood. In fact, football is an integral part of African self-esteem with regards to being recognised by the rest of the world. However, to succeed in international sports means to succeed in a politico-economic structure far from equality and general solidarity. This thesis goes about the question why South Africa received the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Thereby it will distinguish the position of the African continent within the international football system.
A historical analysis will clarify the processes and actors as well as the driving motivations which led to the FIFA World Cup host decision in favour of the African continent. The outcome of this study suggests that social interaction is driven by the interplay of two variables: normative principles and economic practices. The historical development of modern social behaviour from the 16th century until today’s global capitalism surely reflects the interplay of these two traits.
At the hand of the historical development of the international football system this thesis is going to outline this interplay – as a European form of behaviour that came to encapsulate all social relations on the globe particularly by the spread of the cultural practice of football. This study reaches the overall conclusion that the decision to let an African nation host the FIFA World Cup meant that economic practice and normative principles were brought into perceived congruence.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Problem to be investigated
1.3. Aims of the thesis
1.4. Research question and hypothesis
1.5. Literature review
1.6. Framework for analysis
1.6.1. World-Systems analysis
1.6.2. Criticism on Modern World-Systems theory and overcoming it
1.6.3. Conceptualisation of Universalism regarding football
1.6.4. Football within the framework of Modern World-Systems theory
1.7. Summary
CHAPTER TWO: FROM AN ENGLISH TO A GLOBAL GAME
2.1. Introduction
2.2. The beginnings of football
2.2.1. From medieval times to the Renaissance
2.2.2. Utilisation of football for education and socialisation
2.2.3. Industrialisation and universalism
2.2.4. Amateurism versus professionalism
2.3. Spread of football
2.3.1. British cultural hegemony
2.3.2. Football and mass media
2.3.3. The link between football, industry, and politics
2.4. FIFA
2.4.1. The beginnings of FIFA as the universal football body
2.4.2. FIFA versus the Olympic football tournament
2.4.3. FIFA versus the Mitropacup
2.4.4. The FIFA World Cup
2.4.5. FIFA’s universal power and military preconditions
2.5. Summary
CHAPTER THREE: FROM EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM TO AFRICAN EMANCIPATION
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Rise of football in African culture
3.2.1. European imperialism and colonialism
3.2.2. Internal African resistance
3.2.3. International African resistance
3.2.4. International institutionalisation of African football
3.3. Rise of Africa in FIFA
3.3.1. Demise of English power
3.3.2. Havelange, the new FIFA President from Brazil
3.3.3. South Africa’s role in the 1974 Presidential elections
3.3.4. Havelange’s promises
3.3.5. Northern capital for Havelange’s FIFA
3.4. Increased African representation in international football
3.4.1. African football success
3.4.2. Neo-colonialism
3.4.3. Comparative advantage
3.4.4. Problems in African national associations
3.4.5. Differences within Africa
3.5. Summary
CHAPTER FOUR: AFRICAN EMANCIPATION IN FIFA DIPLOMACY
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Diplomatic preconditions
4.2.1. The 2002 World Cup co-hosting decision
4.2.2. Johansson versus Blatter
4.2.3. Television rights
4.3. The two opposing blocs of votes
4.3.1. German formation behind the World Cup bid
4.3.2. German hegemony in UEFA
4.3.3. South Africa and CAF’s division
4.3.4. South Africa’s deal with Brazil
4.4. The public discourse as a moment of pressure
4.4.1. Negative views on FIFA and South Africa’s anger
4.4.2. The Asian ExCom members
4.4.3. The Dempsey Case
4.5. Towards the rotation system and the African World Cup
4.5.1. FIFA’s official version regarding bribery speculations
4.5.2. South Africa’s anger at Dempsey
4.5.3. Towards the 2010 World Cup in Africa
4.6. Summary
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION
Objectives and Research Scope
This thesis investigates the reasons behind the decision to award the 2010 FIFA World Cup to South Africa, aiming to understand the underlying processes within the international football system. It explores how this decision reflects the interplay between economic practices and normative principles, ultimately situating the African continent's position within the global capitalist world-economy.
- Analysis of the international football system's structural and political dynamics.
- Examination of the historical role of football in European imperialism and African emancipation.
- Investigation of FIFA diplomacy and the influence of interest groups on host decisions.
- Application of Modern World-Systems theory to evaluate the capitalist motivations behind sports governance.
Auszug aus dem Buch
3.3.1. Demise of English power
Africa’s struggle for equality in the world body has to be seen as a rise of the so-called developing world as a whole in FIFA. This was led foremost by South America which showed a longer history of political independence and experience in football organisation. Still, at the beginning of FIFA’s existence and with Jules Rimet still in power “FIFA was so Eurocentric that no need was seen for any separate European organization. Rimet’s concept of the world football family was deeply rooted in an entrenched colonialism” (Tomlinson, 2000:58). But South America became a football super-power opposing European dominance on both sportive as well as diplomatic fields. Specifically Brazil managed to become a major football power after it hosted the World Cup in 1950. It also won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962 and until today, Brazil remains the most successful national side in the history of the FIFA World Cup. In addition, a general discussion around the discrimination of FIFA’s developing constituent emerged.
The English FIFA Presidents secured the demand of their nation to host the World Cup in 1966. Inequality for peripheral nations remained, especially due to the Eurocentric worldview by the FIFA President Stanley Rous: A modernizer compared to Rimet, Rous remained nevertheless trapped in an anachronistic set of values. … Rous could be both innovative and traditional, adventurous yet crabbily cautious; modern yet steeped in traditional values. With World Cup finals looking increasingly lucrative, and emerging Third World nations wanting more representation in the world game, Rous appeared ever more old-worldly (Tomlinson, 2000:60).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation by introducing Modern World-Systems theory and setting the stage for analyzing football as a socio-economic system.
CHAPTER TWO: FROM AN ENGLISH TO A GLOBAL GAME: This chapter explores the historical roots of football, its transformation into an professional sport, and the rise of FIFA as a global institution shaped by European interests.
CHAPTER THREE: FROM EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM TO AFRICAN EMANCIPATION: This chapter examines the role of football in African history, moving from a tool of colonial subordination to a platform for African national identity and international diplomatic influence.
CHAPTER FOUR: AFRICAN EMANCIPATION IN FIFA DIPLOMACY: This chapter analyzes the political pressure and diplomatic maneuvers surrounding the host decisions for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION: The final chapter synthesizes the main findings, arguing that the rotation system was a strategic necessity for FIFA to preserve its legitimacy while navigating the contradictions of the capitalist world-economy.
Keywords
FIFA World Cup, South Africa, Modern World-Systems theory, International Football, Africa, Colonialism, Neo-colonialism, FIFA diplomacy, Economic practice, Normative principles, Capitalism, Globalisation, Political economy, Representation, Hegemony
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis examines the global politics and economics behind FIFA's decision to award the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, interpreting it through the lens of international relations and world-systems theory.
What are the key themes addressed?
The research focuses on the intersection of sport and politics, the influence of capitalism on football development, the evolution of FIFA's global role, and the dynamics of African representation in international football.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The primary aim is to analyze the structures and processes of the international football system to determine how and why political and economic variables influence major decisions like World Cup hosting rights.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study utilizes a qualitative, interpretive methodology, framing the analysis within the Modern World-Systems theory to understand social interaction on a global scale.
What topics does the main body cover?
The main body provides a historical progression from football's roots in European imperialism and its early professionalization, to the growth of FIFA, and finally, the diplomatic struggles over representation involving African states, particularly South Africa.
Which keywords define the research?
Key terms include FIFA World Cup, South Africa, Modern World-Systems theory, International Football, Africa, Neo-colonialism, FIFA diplomacy, and Political economy.
How does the author explain FIFA's transition to a rotation system?
The author argues that FIFA was compelled by public discourse and the threat of exposure of non-transparent practices to adopt a rotation system to maintain its claim to universal principles like fairness and equality.
What role did media play in the 2006 host decision?
The media acted as a crucial control institution, where the public disclosure of negative information regarding bidding processes exerted significant pressure on FIFA's stakeholders, forcing them to address internal inconsistencies.
- Quote paper
- Master of Arts International Studies Mark-Marcel Müller (Author), 2007, Africa’s place in the international football system, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/115101
