The Nation-State and the World Cup

During one of my political science classes in University, students and professor alike - though some students clearly had no interest - were engaged a debate about the concept of the nation-state. Specifically, if it retained any relevance in the post-Berlin wall era. By that I mean after the fall of the Soviet Union.

In any event, it was an interesting debate and it turned out I was one of the few who posited that the nation-state was not dead yet. Indeed, a few years later The Economist made a case that the nation-state was prepared to reassert itself. My comment was politely dismissed, boo-hoo-hoo, as "real" thinkers in the class went on discussing the inevitability of its demise. I must confess I was somewhat disappointed nobody thought to consider and expand - or at least humour - what I said.

Observing national governments today, does anyone really believe that the nation-state is on its death bed? Cuba, China and France are prime examples of governments not quite ready to relinquish any of their powers to anybody.

It's intriguing to watch European governments balance their sovereignty with the ideals of the European Union. Either we are witnessing them go down guns-blazing or a legitimate relaunching of the nation-state.

September 11 certainly revealed to people that the United States remained a nation-state and more importantly a country that began to question the whole international system as it was constructed. If World War I destroyed the last vistages of the Treaty of Wesphalia (1648) can it be 9/11 ordered a radical make over of the post-1945 era? There are indeed forces on the planet out to spoil what we have constructed and when it comes to issues of security and jobs people still want government involvement of some kind.

Here in Canada, the government still retains a fair amount of interventionist capabilities - good or bad. The province of Quebec is yet another example of the state maintaining control.

Even if one rejects all that was written above, there is one realm of human activity that can with reason confirm that the nation-state is alive and kicking: the World Cup. One need only watch the raw emotions that overcome people as they wave their national flags and sing in powerful unison their national anthems. One can assume much to the pleasure of politicians, monarchs and other assortments of power brokers in attendance. It's all very patriotic and nationalistic - if not overwhelming.

Lord, even Trinidad and Tobago fans were in full nationalist mode.

Soccer clearly shows that the nation-state has some staying power. Whether it is hollow is another matter.