More than 37 million spectators attended football games in 2007-08 while 3,842 people were arrested for disorder connected to matches according to the UK Home Office. Of those arrests, 373 were for violent crimes – an increase of 33 over the previous season. On the other hand, 67% of matches were problem-free and did not result in any arrest. Instead, 60% of football-related arrests took place outside or away from the football stadia (Home Office, 2008). These statistics show that football violence is at least remarkable enough to draw attention of government departments and statisticians. In the past decades, numerous scholars have tried to analyse the roots and dynamics of this violent fan behaviour (Dunning, 2000) that has been labelled ‘Hooliganism’. The name-giving implies that football-related violence is considered as more than just some weekly disturbances. It is regarded as a social phenomenon which needs to be observed, investigated, and defined which can eventually lead to an understanding of and response to this behaviour. In our paper we will expose to what extent this phenomenon can be classified as a social movement. Before, we will look at the rise and growth of Hooliganism exemplifying it with some extreme occurrences. We are going to describe Hooligan behaviour and the people who engage in it trying to pin point typical characteristics and motivations of Hooligans. Doing that we want to justify that Hooliganism can be understood as a social movement which will allow us to apply different social movement models on Hooliganism. In order to arrive at the rationale of Hooliganism a descriptive definition is necessary which will give the further analyses and interpretation a basic framework. With several similar definitions of Hooliganism to choose from, the one meaning that we are going to use as a point of departure terms Hooliganism as “competitive violence of socially organized fan groups in football, principally directed against opposing fan groups” (Spaaij, 2006, p. 11).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. History of English Hooliganism: Rise and Growth
- III. Characterizing the Movement
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper aims to analyze English football hooliganism and determine to what extent it can be classified as a social movement. The paper examines the history, characteristics, and evolution of hooliganism, applying social movement models to understand its dynamics.
- The historical development of English football hooliganism.
- The characteristics and motivations of typical hooligans.
- The classification of hooliganism as a social movement.
- The response of authorities to hooliganism and its impact.
- The evolution and adaptation of hooliganism over time.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of English football hooliganism, highlighting the scale of the phenomenon and its significance as a social issue. It presents statistics on arrests related to football matches, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. The chapter introduces the research question: to what extent can hooliganism be classified as a social movement? It outlines the paper's structure, including an examination of the rise of hooliganism, a description of hooligan behavior and motivations, and an application of social movement models to the phenomenon. The chapter concludes by defining hooliganism as "competitive violence of socially organized fan groups in football, principally directed against opposing fan groups" (Spaaij, 2006, p. 11), providing a framework for subsequent analysis.
II. History of English Hooliganism: Rise and Growth: This chapter traces the historical development of English football hooliganism, beginning with early reports of disorderly fan behavior in the 1920s and 1930s. It examines the post-World War II surge in hooliganism, attributing it to factors such as the end of national military service and a changing social climate. The chapter details the escalation of violence throughout the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting key events such as the Bradford City fire disaster and the Heysel Stadium disaster. It analyzes the authorities' inadequate initial responses and the subsequent introduction of policies aimed at curbing hooliganism, including stadium renovations, increased security measures, and pricing strategies designed to exclude certain demographics. The chapter concludes by discussing the shift of hooligan activity away from stadiums in the 1990s and the ongoing adaptation of hooligan tactics in response to increased security and surveillance.
III. Characterizing the Movement: This chapter focuses on characterizing the typical hooligan, acknowledging the diverse range of individuals involved in hooliganism. It utilizes field research and quantitative data to establish a profile of the stereotypical hooligan, generally described as a young, single, working-class male with a low level of education, but who is nevertheless employed and not necessarily excluded from mainstream society. The chapter emphasizes the key element of a belief that the football contest extends beyond the pitch itself and underscores the group's organized nature. The analysis of the stereotypical hooligan provides a basis for understanding the motivations and behaviors of a significant segment of the hooligan movement.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
English football hooliganism, social movement, violence, fan behavior, historical development, authorities' response, social class, masculinity, casuals, stadium disasters, regulation, adaptation.
English Football Hooliganism: A Social Movement Analysis - FAQ
What is the main topic of this research paper?
This research paper analyzes English football hooliganism and investigates the extent to which it can be classified as a social movement. It examines the historical development, characteristics, motivations, and evolution of hooliganism, applying social movement theories to understand its dynamics.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The paper aims to explore the historical development of English football hooliganism, characterize the typical hooligan, classify hooliganism as a social movement, analyze the authorities' response, and examine the evolution and adaptation of hooliganism over time.
What are the key themes explored in the research?
Key themes include the historical development of hooliganism, the characteristics and motivations of hooligans, the classification of hooliganism as a social movement, the authorities' response and its impact, and the evolution and adaptation of hooliganism.
What is the definition of hooliganism used in this research?
Hooliganism is defined as "competitive violence of socially organized fan groups in football, principally directed against opposing fan groups" (Spaaij, 2006, p. 11).
What historical periods are covered in the analysis of hooliganism?
The research covers the historical development of hooliganism from early reports in the 1920s and 1930s, through the post-World War II surge, the escalation of violence in the 1970s and 1980s, and the shifts in hooligan activity in the 1990s and beyond.
What factors contributed to the rise of hooliganism?
Factors contributing to the rise of hooliganism include the end of national military service, a changing social climate, inadequate initial responses from authorities, and social and economic factors.
How did authorities respond to hooliganism?
The authorities' initial responses were inadequate. Subsequently, policies were introduced to curb hooliganism, including stadium renovations, increased security measures, and pricing strategies to exclude certain demographics.
How is the typical hooligan characterized?
The typical hooligan is generally described as a young, single, working-class male with a low level of education, but who is nevertheless employed and not necessarily excluded from mainstream society. The research emphasizes the organized nature of hooligan groups and their belief that the football contest extends beyond the pitch itself.
What are some key events mentioned in relation to English football hooliganism?
Key events mentioned include the Bradford City fire disaster and the Heysel Stadium disaster.
What keywords are associated with this research?
Keywords include English football hooliganism, social movement, violence, fan behavior, historical development, authorities' response, social class, masculinity, casuals, stadium disasters, regulation, and adaptation.
What is the structure of the research paper?
The paper is structured into three main chapters: an introduction, a chapter on the history of English hooliganism, and a chapter characterizing the movement as a whole.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2009, English Hooliganism - A Different Social Movement, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/176307
