European Populism /Quote question
The quote selected is “Resistance identities are constructed by fans that are at the wrong end of social domination, in the sense that they are or felt socially excluded or stigmatized within the existing power framework” from the text by Yiannis Zaimakis focused on Football Fans activism. The text will assist in answering the question, can football fully alleviate social activism to reflect concerns of the society honestly? To quotes explains that activism in football is focused on dealing with societal challenges. This quote allows me to question the effectiveness of football activism and its impact on society.
From Greece, Catalonia, to Brazil, football has been used to act as a sign of protest against dictatorial oppression and other forms of abuse by governments. During football matches, the fans have taken the chance to chant and raise banners to convey a specific message. Yiannis (2016) calls it a loophole for political activism due to the difficulty in censoring and monitoring it. Thus, providing a definitive definition of the impact. However, there are no conclusive studies dedicated to understanding the effects of football activism in society. Lack of definitive results makes it impossible to promote or prohibit its use.
My question is significant in understanding the two critical aspects of any activism. Firstly, who are the affected parties, and what is their expected result. By understanding the overall impact of an activism or protest activity, it is easier to prepare a final analysis of specific aspects of oppression leading to the protest. Besides, it is easier to identify the grieving party, thereby providing solutions and alternatives to the challenges they are facing.
Reference
Zaimakis, Yiannis (2016). Football fan culture and politics in modern Greece: the process of fandom radicalization during the austerity era. Journal of Soccer and Society, Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/14660970.2016.1171214