Cleveland to Present Honors College Lecture on Soccer's Rise

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From its origins as a working-class pastime in 19th-century Britain, soccer now reigns as the world’s most popular sport. But why?

The answer, according to Todd Cleveland, professor of history and former striker, has to do with empire, globalization and access.

“What’s really interesting is the way different communities have taken the game and imbued it with new meaning — made it their own, introduced their own styles and tactics,” Cleveland said.

Cleveland will discuss soccer’s rise to global prominence in his public lecture, “Soccer,” which will be offered online via Zoom at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Cleveland’s lecture previews his Spring 2023 Honors College Signature Seminar, Soccer. Please fill out this online interest form to gain access to the lecture. 

Imperial Origins 

While it may have started as a game for common Britons, soccer today has audiences around the world. Cleveland explains that the game’s worldwide circulation is inherently linked to histories of colonization.

“The game was originally disseminated along the networks of empires,” he said, noting the British brought soccer to different colonized peoples. “Sailors, soldiers, missionaries introduced the game, and not necessarily for altruistic purposes —they thought it was a way colonized subjects could harmlessly blow off steam.”

Cleveland observes that the British didn't anticipate the resonance soccer would have with local populations, who often incorporated it into existing athletic traditions. “They introduced a particular game and a way that they thought it should be played,” he explains, detailing how different communities have since made it their own. For instance, various dribbling and feigning techniques have become popular tactics for teams in Africa. To Cleveland, this ongoing adaptation gives the game an interesting dimension.

Cleveland also attributes soccer’s widespread popularity to affordability. Having lived in various parts of Africa for years, he recalls playing in various settings. “I played with things that only sort of vaguely resemble a ball — a bunch of rolled up socks with rubber bands around them. The cost of entry is basically zero, and it can be played in alleys and fields, virtually anywhere.”

Examining a Global Game 

Beyond origins, Cleveland’s lecture will examine how soccer reflects contemporary patterns of globalization. He points to the international connections formed by professional teams where, for instance, a player from Uganda might play in Germany or Spain.

“If you look at the elite European teams, they’re bringing together a global community in the locker room every weekend with players from Africa, South America, all over Europe, and increasingly North American players.” He also notes English has become a lingua franca for teams, as most players already speak it as a second language. 

Despite working-class roots, soccer today exemplifies global trends in wealth and influence. Cleveland notes many top franchises have been acquired by billionaires, some of whom are rather controversial. 

“One of the most interesting and controversial owners are sovereign wealth funds coming from the Middle East,” he explains. “Essentially countries own teams, and it’s problematic because any public discontent about it is not allowed or stifled.” Cleveland’s lecture will also discuss the upcoming World Cup tournament hosted in Qatar, where hundreds of people have allegedly died constructing stadiums. 

Off the international stage, Cleveland is excited by soccer’s continued growth in the United States. He attributes its popularity to safety concerns around American football, as well as the country’s success in the 2019 Women’s World Cup. “The growth has been amazing,” he says. 

About Todd Cleveland 

Cleveland is a professor in the Department of History in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. His research broadly concentrates around the interactions between Europeans and sub-Saharan Africans during the colonial period and, in particular, labor and social relations between the Portuguese and indigenous African populations. 

Cleveland’s research has additionally focused on the history of sports in Africa and features in six books, including Following the Ball: The Migration of African Soccer Players across the Portuguese Colonial Empire, 1949-1975 (Ohio University Press, 2017) and Sports in Africa, Past and Present, co-edited with Tarminder Kaur and Gerard Akindes (Ohio University Press, 2020).

He is currently working on a book project that examines the history of Africa and the Olympic Games. He holds a Ph.D. in African history from the University of Minnesota.

Signature Seminars Explore Diverse Topics

Soccer is one of three Honors College Signature Seminars scheduled for Spring 2023. Other topics to be explored include Death and Art, taught by Lynn Jacobs, a Distinguished Professor in the School of Art, and The Science, Politics and Culture of Dinosaurs, taught by Celina Suarez, an associate professor in geosciences.

Deans of each college may nominate professors to participate in this program, and those who are selected to teach will become Dean’s Fellows in the Honors College.

Honors students must apply to participate, and those selected will be designated Dean’s Signature Scholars. The course application is posted online on the Signature Seminars web page. The deadline to apply is Monday, Oct. 31.

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.