The World Cup of Disruption
Global Social Disruption
Every four years the world is brought to a screeching halt by a sporting event that produces high levels of mass insanity. This is the magic of the FIFA World Cup. Outside of Inuits, and the Yali, the citizens of the United States have at least a semblance of objectivity (this refers to objectivity about the World Cup only). The massive month-long disruption creates worldwide economic and political consequences. The hosting nations promise huge financial returns but analysis demonstrates the host countries either lose money or the impact is modest. The host country makes extravagant promises (generation of massive numbers of jobs, infrastructure upgrades…) to gain support and excitement. In Brazil the country has seen massive protests as discontent erupts over shoddy public services, corruption, the cost of living, and ineffectual government. President Rousseff has seen her approval rating plummet since last year making the next elections more competitive than expected.
Bruno Torturra of Mídia Ninja(activist news outlet), stated that future protests will be contingent on how the event is run and the performance of Team Brazil.
Support for the tournament has already plummeted from 79% in 2007 to 48%. Early elimination (which seems doubtful) will cause Brazilians to question the ‘excessive’ expense. “Social movements are quietly cheering for Brazil to lose,” remarks one activist, “even to arch-rival Argentina.” President Rouseff may need a victory on the field to create a “feel good” effect to distract voters from real domestic problems.
The World Cup effect isn’t limited to the host country. Al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Somalia-based terror group, raided a coastal Kenyan town and killed some 60 people. The group used the gathering of World Cup spectators to increase casualties and media exposure. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a bomb that ripped through a soccer-viewing venue in Northern Nigeria (killing 14). The former coach of France stated that he believed the elimination of the Ukrainian team might have contributed to the conflict. The New York Daily News reported that ISIS was using social media (Twitter) to spread its message during the World Cup by stating that they were using a severed head as a soccer ball. The US is using the convergence of political leaders in South America to rebuild damaged relations. The New York Times reported that Vice President Joseph Biden made it clear that meetings with Brazil’s president would be to improve relations between the two countries. Other media outlets have reported that the government of Mexico is using the social disruption to pass unpopular legislation. The opponents of have complained that President Enrique Peña Nieto and his political party are using the popular frenzied attention on the World Cup to privatize Pemex. The opposition claims this will benefit some foreign oil companies and provide rich rewards to PRI cronies, without “trickling down” to anyone else.
The World Cup presents the world with a social disruption that can be used to repair diplomatic relations, distract the electorate from unpopular legislation, spread terror, focus social unrest or to play soccer with a human head.
