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Football and Fascism

The National Game under Mussolini

Simon Martin author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:1st Sep '04

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Football and Fascism cover

Also available in hardback, 9781859737002 GBP50.00 (September, 2004)

Football and Fascism explores the intersection of sports and politics during Mussolini's regime in Italy. The book delves into how football was institutionalized as a fascist endeavor, serving both domestic and international purposes. Domestically, the sport was used to cultivate a sense of Italian identity, while internationally, it acted as a diplomatic tool aimed at enhancing Italy's global standing. The 1930s marked a peak in Italian football, highlighted by Italy's victories in the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, as well as their success at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

The author discusses the reorganization of Italian football into a national league, Serie A, in 1929, which led to the emergence of club teams that began to dominate European competitions. This period saw Italian Fascism leveraging football to shape public opinion and reinforce conformity among the populace. By politicizing the sport, the regime aimed to elevate its international prestige while instilling nationalist values among citizens.

Interestingly, the book posits that the regime's efforts to use football as a means of identity formation inadvertently highlighted existing societal tensions. This paradox allowed for the acknowledgment of diversity and individuality within the framework of a fascist state. Ultimately, Football and Fascism offers a cultural history that examines the complexities of Italian Fascism through the lens of football, revealing how the sport became a powerful vehicle for political expression and societal influence.

'This serious and very detailed analysis elevates football to an important consideration in pre-war politics, and reminds us that the sport does not sit in isolation from society's influences'Programme Monthly 'Simon Martin's interesting and original study...tries to unpack the complicated relationship between Italian fascism and football.'John Foot, The Guardian Review'An intriguing, diligent work'WSC (When Saturday Comes) Magazine

ISBN: 9781859737057

Dimensions: 216mm x 138mm x 15mm

Weight: unknown

296 pages