In his inaugural lecture at the University of Chemnitz, Klaus Stolz tackled the question of ‘Football and National Identity in Scotland’. Stolz argues, ‘Unlike other so-called stateless nations, such as Catalonia or Quebec, Scotland is in possession of one of the most potent symbols of nationhood in modern times: its own national football team. By providing an ideal opportunity for the expression of Scottish identity, football serves as a constant popular reminder of its national identity to the rest of the nation.’
In his inaugural lecture at the University of Chemnitz, Klaus Stolz tackled the question of ‘Football and National Identity in Scotland’. Stolz argues, ‘Unlike other so-called stateless nations, such as Catalonia or Quebec, Scotland is in possession of one of the most potent symbols of nationhood in modern times: its own national football team. By providing an ideal opportunity for the expression of Scottish identity, football serves as a constant popular reminder of its national identity to the rest of the nation.’
He continues, ‘In my opinion, the real importance of Scottish football as part of Scottish popular culture is that it affects not only the die-hard fan, but society as a whole. Football has supported the material base and social infrastructure of civic Scotland like no other Scottish institution, safe perhaps of the Church of Scotland.’
Yet ‘the Scottish nationalist intelligentsia has long been highly critical of football and its importance for Scottish identity. Tom Nairn, one of Scotland’s leading Marxist thinkers, condemned the Scottish football world altogether as mindless sub-cultural nationalism.’
Stolz notes that the early elimination of Scotland from the 1978 World Cup in Argentina ‘and the confirmation of the typical Scottish “we are rubbish” mentality that went with it, is still quoted by some academics as one reason why Scotland did not embrace political devolution in the 1979 referendum.’
He also notes, ‘Football supporters in Scotland are still predominantly male, white, working class and from an urban lowland background. Thus, women, ethnic minorities, the middle classes and the Highlands seem to be largely excluded from identity formation via football.’
Stolz speculates that ‘The establishment of the first Scottish Parliament since 1707 can be seen as an indicator for the political maturity of Scotland that may weaken its fixation with football as an expression of nationhood.’ Maybe, but I think that the roots go deeper than that.
In a subsequent post we will look at Stolz’s views about the Tartan Army and an alternative universe in which shinty could have been Scotland’s national game.