Book

Football in the Middle East: State, Society, and the Beautiful Game

Name: Football in the Middle East: State, Society, and the Beautiful Game
Author: Abdullah Al-Arian (ed.)

Abdullah Al-Arian (ed.)

2022

Abdullah Al-Arian (ed.) · 2022 · Qatar/UK

An academic anthology examining football's role in state power, gender and identity across the Arab world.

One of the most comprehensive scholarly treatments of Middle Eastern football politics.

The Historian

Abdullah Al-Arian's edited collection situates Arab football within a rich historical context, drawing on the region's Ottoman and colonial pasts to analyze how modern-day regimes wield power through the sport. This anthology preserves the complexities of state-society relationships in MENA countries, particularly in Qatar, where global attention has centered on World Cup preparations.

The Psychologist

This collection of essays reveals how fans navigate competing desires for national pride, social belonging, and personal expression through their love of football. By analyzing the intersection of state power, local culture, and global influences, the book offers a nuanced exploration of fandom as a site of emotional investment and ideological contestation.

The Sceptic

While this anthology sheds light on the intersection of football and state power in the MENA region, its scope may be limited by its exclusive focus on the Arab world, potentially overlooking the experiences of other regional populations, such as Iranians or Turks. Its reliance on Western perspectives also raises questions about cultural imperialism and epistemological bias.

These are interpretations written in three voices, not quotations from any individual.

Language: English
Length: 336 pp
Subject: Football across MENA region
Region: Middle East
Tone: Investigative
Difficulty: Deep

Hurst Publishers/Oxford University Press; hardback

In print

Sourcejadaliyya.com

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