‘From Rotterdam to Rio’: Investigating Perceptions of Sporting, Socio-Political and Cultural Developments in Germany between 2000 and 2014

Abstract

This research explores the perceptions of a sample of German nationals towards socio-political, cultural and footballing contexts between periods of the UEFA European Championships in 2000 and the FIFA World Cup in 2014. The examinations of perceptions were obtained through interviews of German football fans from both western and eastern regions, including SV Werder Bremen club officials. The findings suggest that national pride has become an increasingly prominent feature in a unified Germany following the hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It is also argued here that immigration in German society has positively impacted the German national soccer team. However, there are some recurrent and seemingly problematic issues in German society pertaining to immigration and religious identity. Some fans and officials consider the promotion of national team manager Joachim Löw as a catalyst in the subsequent success of the national team in Rio in 2014, impacting the development of German football from 2000.

Access, security and diplomacy

“…These might involve tackling previous associations with negative stereotypes and outdated (mis)conceptions that may have shaped public consciousness in light of historical events. Framed in a positive light, the 2006 World Cup for instance was considered by some to have provided valuable opportunities for Germany to develop progressive international relations, moving away from the image of the Nazi regime (Sutton and Rookwood, 2015). The 2010 World Cup presented South Africa with the chance to showcase itself as a prosperous, stable and unified country after years of civil unrest under the Apartheid regime (Cornelissen, 2010).…”