How Boycotting Changed Sports (Virtual Sample Class)

Whether called soccer, football, or futbol, the beautiful game is truly a global sport—and one undeniably linked to politics and international diplomacy. FIFA, the largest international soccer association, currently represents more nations than the UN… Despite this, exclusion is an unfortunate part of FIFA's history, and the organization still faces critiques today. The World Cup and international sporting events such as the Olympics are rooted in European colonial occupation and domination of much of Africa and Asia, and histories of white settler control in Oceania and the Americas.

Why has that changed over time? Boycotting.

Join this sample class, led by Professor Amy Kallander, to understand the global popularity of soccer alongside these inequalities, and how Arab and African nations have organized to challenge them. You’ll begin to see how the social and political history of a nation is exemplified by soccer, soccer fandom, and activism within sports. Importantly, you’ll learn how sports provide a stage not just for entertainment and athletic prowess but also for contesting national and international politics.