Soccer vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics
by Gabriel Kuhn
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Description
Soccer has turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Professionalism and commercialization dominate its global image. Yet the game retains a rebellious side, maybe more so than any other sport co-opted by moneymakers and corrupt politicians. From its roots in working-class England to political protests by players and fans, and a current radical soccer underground, the notion of football as the "people's game" has been kept alive by numerous individuals, teams, and communities. This book show more not only traces this history but also reflects on common criticisms-that soccer ferments nationalism, serves right-wing powers, and fosters competitiveness-exploring alternative perspectives and practical examples of egalitarian DIY soccer. Soccer vs. the State serves both as an orientation for the politically conscious football supporter and as an inspiration for those who try to pursue the love of the game away from televisions and big stadiums, bringing it to back alleys and muddy pastures. This second edition has been expanded to cover events of recent years, including the involvement of soccer fans in the Middle Eastern uprisings of 2011-2013, the FIFA scandal of 2015, and the 2017 strike by the Danish women's team. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I would recommend this book for someone already familiar with soccer/football. I don't know much about it and had no idea what most of the acronyms and organization names were all about. Honestly, this book wasn't very well put-together, it could have used a bit more organization, a bit less redundancy, and better formatting. Also, the pictures could have vastly benefited from captions. I hate seeing pictures in books that don't have captions!!
Otherwise I did learn a little bit about soccer. I find it amazing, as a citizen of the pro-sports dominated US, that there can be such underground sports movements. Even in the US, pro sports even own the minor leagues, so it's hard to break out of the pro sport mold here. I'm glad other show more countries aren't so caught in that grip, although it looks to be headed that way for a lot of the bigger soccer teams. show less
Otherwise I did learn a little bit about soccer. I find it amazing, as a citizen of the pro-sports dominated US, that there can be such underground sports movements. Even in the US, pro sports even own the minor leagues, so it's hard to break out of the pro sport mold here. I'm glad other show more countries aren't so caught in that grip, although it looks to be headed that way for a lot of the bigger soccer teams. show less
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PM Press
56 works; 1 member
Author Information
41+ Works 600 Members
Gabriel Kuhn is an Austrian-born writer and translator living in Sweden. His other books include Sober Living for the Revolution: Hardcore Punk, Straight Edge, and Radical Politics; Turning Money into Rebellion: The Unlikely Story of Denmark's Revolutionary Bank Robbers; Antifascism, Sports, Sobriety: Forging a Militant Working-Class Culture; show more Soccer vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics; X: Straight Edge and Radical Sobriety; and Liberating Spmi: Indigenous Resistance in Europe's Far North. show less
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2011
Classifications
- Genres
- Sports and Leisure, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 796.334 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Sports Ball sports Inflated ball driven by the foot Soccer
- LCC
- GV943.9 .P65 .K84 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Recreation. Leisure Recreation. Leisure Sports Ball games: Baseball, football, golf, etc.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 74
- Popularity
- 425,782
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 1
