The day before the magic kingdom opens in São Paulo, WKAR’s “Current State” host Mark Bashore interviewed me about the politics of the World Cup. We discussed FIFA profits and institutional reform, special World Cup laws and extraterritoriality, nation-building, development, civic protests, and what the future holds for Brazil, on and off the pitch. Originally broadcast live on June 11, 2014. Take a listen!
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3 replies on “Brazil 2014: World Cup Politics”
Love the way you’ve articulated these issues for a wide audience! Hope Michiganders were listening en masse.
Fantastic interview that captures the complexity of the issues in a subtle and sensitive fashion. The risk of social upheaval might not have happened in Brazil despite its humiliating defeat to Germany, but Brazilians (some of them) gave the world a glimmer of hope in calling for a new paradigm in how mega-events such as the World Cup should be organized. Although it is unlikely to continue in the next two events, one hopes the momentum created by the social movements in Brazil can be sustained and genuine reforms introduced to the “beautiful game.” Thanks for your insightful thoughts.
Thanks Brenda and Maanda for your kind words. I agree with you, Maanda, that there is some hope and perhaps even momentum to foster real change in world football. Time will tell.