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The hooligan as ‘internal’ other? Football fans, ultras culture and nesting intra-orientalisms

2014; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 51; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/1012690214526401

1461-7218

Andrew Hodges,

Balkans: History, Politics, Society

Football fans, specifically fan associations ( navijačke udruge), are sometimes depicted as stereotypical of Balkan ‘mentality’, drawing on associations with violence, organised crime and examples of ‘primitive’ behaviour and attitudes at football matches. In this paper, I argue that the drawing of such associations may explored in terms of a nesting intra-orientalism, whereby non-European ‘others’ are constructed at different levels typically within a state, rather than projected outside to other geographical regions or states. On the basis of my experience as a member of an ultra-left fan association in Zagreb, I explore several characteristics of ultras’ group participation – focusing on what they referred to as the ‘supporters’ world’ ( navijački svijet) and ultras’ culture ( ultras kultura). I label three characteristics that also define the wider contemporary ‘everyday geopolitics’ in the Balkans at present. On the basis of these three characteristics, I evaluate the hypothesis of a nesting ‘intra-orientalism’ and the ideological purposes it may serve.