Can Sports Bring World Peace?
in 2011, former German international Jurgen Klinsmann took over management of
the United States national soccer team. Klinsmann revamped the national squad
and has enjoyed a fine performance at the World Cup in Brazil.
Photo Courtesy Reuters
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
57
S oft P ower
This article is adapted from a
lecture delivered at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, April
30, 2014, and Brown’s Watson
Institute, April 28, 2014
and
from Europe. Hockey players from Scandinavia, Russia,
and Eastern Europe are stars in the NHL. International
players are gaining a significant presence in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs have pioneered in recruitment
of international players. Major League Baseball boasts
players from Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, the
Dominican Republic, Cuba, and even Australia.
The leading UEFA champion soccer teams from England, Italy, France, and Portugal now contain an