Soccer Empire
Question #1
Dubois in his book explains the history of the French soccer using different theories and concepts. One of the main concepts used in the narration is “La France Metissee”. Different football teams in France were mainly comprised of players from various diverse races, religions, backgrounds, cities and regions. Based on these factors, they were considered to be “La France Metissee”. In the course of their participation in the game, the players emerged as heroes showcasing the strengths of different cultures and racial groupings. Their contribution was very critical in improving inclusiveness and ending racism which had become deep rooted in the society.
Each football team had players from different backgrounds. However, they all played together for the French nation. The selfless act of these players was very critical in cultivating national unity. It was also a source of national pride for France. When the French team triumphed in the world cup, the victory was very instrumental in the rediscovery of the national pride which had been lost (Dubois 164). The political class also saw the need to discuss the issues that would help improve diversity and the existing immigration policies. The French society was able to realize that they ought to embrace diversity instead of discriminating people who are different from them.
According to Lilian Thuram, the celebration that followed their world cup victory was extraordinary. According to him, the real France with its diversity and heterogeneous composition was visible (Dubois 167). The victory simply brought out a side of the nation that had been swept under the rug for a very long time. It was an eye opening moment that sought to open doors for a new nation. Various polls conducted in France showed that major of the French people felt in the same way as Thuram. There was hope everywhere that the word cup victory would help change the attitude and direction of their nation. Approximately 70% of the people felt that the world cup victory had momentarily brought the French people together. Another 55% felt that the word cup triumph had created a moment in history where both the immigrants and the natives had shared one thing in common (Dubois 166). Zenedine Zidane later described the victorious moment as a period of redemption whereby different opposing sides came together on one stage (p. 170). The world cup victory was an indication of what the French nation could be if justice and diversity were appreciated and embraced as a critical part of their heritage.
Question #2
In his analysis of ‘Soccer Empire’, Dubois employs the history of soccer as a tool for showcasing the history of the French Empire. Sporting activities such as soccer are very effective in showing various historical aspects during the colonial period and after the French colonization had ended. Dubois disagreed with the assertion that the book mainly focused in the French history to showcase the relationship that exists between football and the French politics (Dubois xiv). According to Dubois, the French football team was a symbol of national unity and modern day diverse societies.
Unlike other approaches, cultural events such as sports tend to be more explicit towards issues such as representation. The composition of a team is a symbol of the attitude of the society towards particular racial groupings. For example, during the colonial period, there was a tremendous amount of prejudice towards immigrants and people who were of non-French origin. The prejudice would be showcased in team selection and the attitude of the fans towards these players.
Dubois insists that the victory of the French team in the 1998 world cup should be understood in the context of a major event in the modern French society. The crowds that poured into the streets to celebrate the victory were more than those who came out in 1944 to celebrate the liberation. Undoubtedly, that moment of victory showcased the diversity of the French population in a manner that no other event in history had done. There were people who complained that the team was not ‘really French’ based on the fact that the players came from different racial backgrounds. However, according to Dubois, the victory changed the definition of the French society from the perceived one race colonial composition to what it should actually be.
To many historians, sporting events such as football can be very discomforting mainly because of the idea that pure chance can play a very critical role in the final outcome of the game. A case of food poisoning that occurred in the Brazilian team sealed the fate of the French team. However, the question that follows is what would have been the impact of a French loss. Would the people have come out in equal numbers and diversity to support their team? In this context, sports must therefore be used in the best attempts to contain a rational explanation of the history of a society such as the French society.
Work Cited
Dubois, Laurent. Soccer Empire: The World Cup and the future of France. University of California Press, 2011.
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