Connection of Soccer to Globalization and Diversity

When first reading How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer, I immediately was reminded of the movie Green Street Hooligan’s. Although the movie is based in and on London soccer, it touches upon the history between soccer rivals and the gruesome behavior just like Foer does. But in Foer’s book, he exemplifies how the relationship between rivals coincides with globalization and how it works.

Throughout the book, Foer touches upon race and ethnicity, off and on the soccer field. The connection he leads from that to globalization is almost one you can make yourself by reading. In Chapter 2, Foer talks about the rivalry between the Rangers and the Celtics, leading all the way back to religion. He talks about the gruesome chants, murders and overall history, between the rivals. The rivalry is almost something they thrive off of individually and as a whole. This rivalry and overall belief in their cultures and religions, exemplifies what each country in the market feels and succeeds by. As noted in the chapter, “even in the global market, they draw supporters who crave ethnic identification” continuing to suggest that “if they lost their extremist sloganeering, they’d lose money. This right here, explained to me how globalization worked. Since these teams and fans live for their culture, their religion, their race, their ethnicity and are so passionate about it, it creates good business in the global market. Why try to globalize and be civil with the other country or in Foer’s case the rival soccer team, when you can gain more fans that want to live and fight for who and what they are. Although, we outsource as a nation, the United States is striving to be more USA made and keep jobs within the country for our economy. Just like many soccer teams will not trade players because they need them to win games.

Foer then discusses the Great Depression and the effects it had on Scotland. Because of the limited jobs and bad economy, the “religious scapegoating” kicked in and the relationship between the Celtics and Rangers really began to be dangerous.  Since the shipbuilding industry plummeted because of Germany and American surging, the negatives of globalization were apparent.

All in all, this book exemplifies how soccer explains the globalized war after war, race and religion struggles. The perspective Foer uses to show you in a simplified manner what globalization is, is very fascinating. I believe in all of his examples in regards to soccer. When a team recruits outside their country because they need better talent, it promotes key concepts of globalization such as, outsourcing to other countries that are more efficient and cultural diversity in the market (or team). After reading this book and watching that movie many years ago, I believe Foer makes many key points about how soccer truly explains the world of globalization and diversity.