Global Strategy - blog

Speaking of social change is a complicated matter. I approach this thorny issue with an example: a football match.

Even visiting East London for just any reason can be an intriguing anthropological endeavour. Not to speak of going to the home ground of a known problem team. These problems occurred mostly in the distant past of 1970s and early 1980s, but still, there's a sense of ‘loudness' that can be felt amidst the crowds.

Nevertheless, to my surprise the event was completely civilised. No brawling, no throwing objects, no nothing-only friends and families watching a game. Naturally, the security measures were strict, as usual, but the only sign from the good old bad days were the somewhat worn-out faces of some of the older loyalists. What has happened? Have people just become emotionally too fat to care? Or is the identity construction sliding away from the former ‘loyal supporter' nexus? Times have surely gone by gangs like The Mile End Mob.

So, the most ‘interesting' phenomena never emerged (and nothing like in Rio). I don't know if the main reason for this is the hedonistic, consumerist undercurrent of the contemporary Western society, or the fact that the home team prevailed.