Title:  WORLD CUP & WORLD POLITICS

Department: HISTORY
Course Number: 2009 Fall 103
Section Number: 02 
Primary Instructor: Dubois, Laurent M

Synopsis of course content

This course explores the history of soccer and of its premier competition, the World Cup, in order to understand how and why it has become the most popular sport in the world. We will examine the development and spread of the game, the institutions that have grown up around it (such as F.I.F.A.), and the economics of the sport. We will also study the biographies of legendary players and the return to legendary World Cup games stretching from the 1930s to 2006. Throughout the course, we will focus particularly on the way in which soccer condenses, channels, and at times transforms politics. Our examples will be drawn from Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Students will be required to make class presentations, complete regular writing assignments including research projects, and participate in a conference that will take place during the semester.

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL, AM I RIGHT?