LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
O
n July 13th, 2014, almost one billion people tuned into the World Cup final between Germany and
Argentina, to observe an event that ostensibly should have no real impact on our daily lives – just
a Sunday afternoon distraction. The question of what exactly brings people to invest so much in
the world of sports remains unanswered by the academic world. Yet, we have seen in history that
sporting outcomes can have impacts far beyond the field of play.
Whether it is the chariot team fan divisions whose clashes nearly brought down the Eastern Roman Empire,
western boycotts of the Soviet Union Olympics, or the diplomatic crisis brought about by a qualifying match between Egypt and Algeria for the 2010 World Cup, we have learned that sports can both aggravate and ameliorate
international affairs. Irrespective of the mechanism by which this happens, sports remains one of the only arenas
where the world is ready to come together on—to use a sports metaphor—an equal playing field. This attribute
raises sports from glorified playtime to an integral facet of international relations.
Our contributors this quarter are tackling some of the most interesting contemporary impacts sports can have
on international relations. Marcos Degaut, a political advisor to the Brazilian House of Representatives, explores
how the threat of terrorism can be magnified tenfold in a country hosting both the World Cup and the upcoming
2016 Summer Olympics. As Degaut discusses, precautions taken by Brazil this year and in two years will likely
form a model for future hosts of international events of this scale. Derek Shearer of Occidental College teases out
the role that sports can play as a kind of soft power on the world stage, especially in countries facing human rights
crises. Tom Ecker, an Olympic historian, analyzes both Germany and China’s utilization of their role as Olympic
hosts in 1936 and 2008 to bolster their reputation in the international community in times when they desperately
needed it. Finally, Stefan Szymanski of the University of Michigan explores the synchronicity between economics
and sports using both convergence theory and soccer (or football) analytics.
The remaining authors in this issue cover contemporary topics outside of the realm of sports. Margaret Chan,
director of the World Health Organization, discusses the status of two missions she holds dear: women and the
people of Africa. In addition, Mohamed Ali, Executive Director of the Iftiin Foundation, discusses the dearth of
economic opportunities available to youth in the developing world and how providing youth with more responsibility in the small-business sector can not only complement economic growth, but also reduce violence. Ismail
Ferdous, a very talented photographer, discusses his experience documenting the Rana Plaza collapse and offers
his opinion on the future of visual journalism. Finally, Patrick Mendis, a Professor at George Mason’s School of
Public Policy, discusses Beijing’s current affairs in the South and East China Seas and compares it to the Monroe
Doctrine in an intriguing analysis.
Earl Warren, former Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, has said: “I always turn to the sports pages first,
which records people’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.” Perhaps, it is precisely
this feature of sports that inspires so much international enthusiasm, no matter its form. This issue, we hope, is a
tribute to those accomplishments.
To the game,
Sarah Moon & Mathilde Montpetit
Summer 2014 • H A R V A R D I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E V I E W
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