Soccer and Politics focuses on the intersection of soccer and politics, uses soccer as a lens to understand politics, shows how soccer is used by and for politics, and how politics influences soccer.
Athena Title
Soccer and Politics
Prerequisite
INTL 3200 or INTL 3200E or INTL 3200H or INTL 3300 or INTL 3300E or INTL 3300H
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to synthesize details about the concepts in international affairs (e.g., the international system, actors in the international system, the principles of sovereignty and anarchy).
By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate how the characteristics of various political systems lead to different political outcomes.
By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate the major theoretical approaches and models used within international relations and comparative politics.
By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate theoretical foundations in the study of international relations and comparative politics when applying them to attempt to explain the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events.
By the end of the course students will be able to collect and analyze original quality data relative to the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events.
By the end of the course students will be able to create original, well-informed arguments about the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events that is theoretically informed and includes quality data.
By the end of the course students will be able to write in a clear structured manner that provides an original theoretically informed argument presented to an intended audience that is supported with data and uses appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
By the end of the course students will be able to create an original social science research project.
Topical Outline
Part I: Theories and Perspectives
Three Discourses on Soccer
Globalization
Part II: Soccer Against the Enemy
Part III: Soccer and Identity
Gender
Sexuality
Women's Soccer
Race and (Anti-) Racism
Part IV: Diplomacy and Nationalism
Soccer Diplomacy
The 2022 Qatar Men's World Cup
Nationalism and National Identity
Hooligans and Ultras
Part V: Who Controls Soccer?
The State
Professional Associations
Capitalism
The Fans
Soccer in the US: Still “American Exceptionalism”?
Part VI: Soccer and Conflict - The Case of Colombia
Colombia and Golombia
Can Soccer Be Saved from Itself?
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
