Identity, Soccer, and Terrorism

Matthew Smith

Blog Post 4

As I read Foer’s “How Soccer Explains the World” I found myself thinking about terrorist organizations. The first chapter was of particular interest to me in its description of the Delije and Arkan’s rise. I found myself drawing parallels between soccer gangs, the Delije specifically, and terrorist groups. In both cases the groups have a common factor serving as the basis of their relationship, an effective leadership unifies and directs the group, and groups find people from elsewhere flocking to them seeking something to identify with.

            Terrorist groups unify under an ideology whether it be religious or political or a blend of both. The group is comprised of people with common interests or goals. When these interests or goals are in conflict with the beliefs or goals of another group a terrorist group can turn towards violence to combat the competing ideology. The Delije began as a group of fans for the Serbian Belgarde Red Star. The fan base identified heavily with the team as a symbol of their ethnic identity. The fans rallied behind their team and against the other teams and the ethnic identities they represented. The stage was set for the Ultra Bad Boys (the name of the fan gang before they were militarized) to be mobilized by their united ideology much like a terrorist group would.

            When we discuss terrorist organizations we discuss the leadership. Because organizations are subnational it is easiest to identify them by their leadership. Arkan was the leader of the Delije. He was able to use effective military leadership to attain prominence and wealth. This is slightly different from a terrorist organization where money and good arming often leads to effective military leadership but still a leader was able to play on a group ready and able to mobilize. As I read I kept comparing Arkan and his glorification to the glorification of terrorist leaders within their groups. Arkan’s face was everywhere and so was his tiger symbol. His people saw pictures of the horrible things he did and they ate it up. The images that turned many sentiments in the West against the Delije and its Serbian pride only served to further excite Serbians. Arkan sought to intimidate and create fear in those he opposed and his efforts galvanized the Serbs that supported him. His actions and their results are similar to those of a terrorist group that uses successful bombings and attacks as recruitment propaganda.

            Turning away from the example of the Delije I found one quote that resonated with me regarding Irish soccer teams and their fandom. On page 39-40 Foer writes, “even in the global market, they draw supporters who crave ethnic identification.” This quote immediately connected to ISIS for me. In the wake of the assassination videos in which a militant with a British accent executed journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff you saw numerous reports about Western European and American Muslims defecting to the Middle East to connect with their Muslim identity. In an effort to connect with what they thought it meant to be a Muslim many young men were joining the ranks of ISIS, attracted to it’s militant rhetoric and sensationalist actions. The Irish club teams tried to attract fans by appealing to their sense of identity just as ISIS has played on Western Muslims who feel that ISIS embodies their beliefs. I find it interesting that people seek an ethnic connection so strongly. I myself identify with my Norwegian heritage and pull for them in the Olympics even though I have never been there.
            In the end I may be pulling for straws but I am fascinated by how the Delije was organized and how both soccer and terrorism employ the ethnic identities of people to rally them to a cause. Once an identity forms the desire to protect it runs deep. Effective leaders know this and will always use people’s identities to their advantage.