Football and Democracy

A short book about football, democracy, and how to build a society is a book like no other. A book of ideas about football, and at the same time a reflection on how to build an open society. It is at once a passionate declaration of love for football and a fervent defense of democracy.

In this little book, Niklas Rådström portrays football as an experimental space that, through ritualized performances, repeatedly tests how a functioning society can be built. Football’s essential unpredictability reminds us that regardless of attempts to control our lives, something unexpected will happen. Democracy and open society are fueled by the same dynamism: being constantly prepared to reevaluate opinions and strategies in the face of an ever-changing world. This book is not about individual matches, teams or tournaments, but about the nature of football, and how it is an expression of our culture.