Soccer as Political Propaganda and as a Vehicle for Culture Planning During the Dictatorships of Francisco Franco and Benito Mussolini


The use of sport to satisfy political means dates back to the Roman Empire when “pan y circo” (bread and circus) was used as a way to distract the masses through athletic games. Sport and politics have long had an intimate, though often subversive, relationship. Soccer is an extremely important social and cultural institution that can be manipulated by political bodies to help create culture and cultural entities. During the regimes of Francisco Franco in Spain and Benito Mussolini in Italy, soccer played a strategic, political role in nation building. The institution of soccer became a tool which the dictators manipulated to create their nations, control their citizens, implement their political strategies, repress their opposition, and give the world a certain view of their country. Soccer grew to embody much more than a sport, but rather a vehicle for political, regional, and cultural expression. The dictators Benito Mussolini (1922-1945) and Francisco Franco (1939-1975) manipulated the sport of soccer for political means and also used it to strategically create a new national culture.

Sport has become recognized as a legitimate means of socialization and culture planning in recent years. With staggering numbers of the population watching, playing, and discussing sport, its role in culture and politics is understandable. It must be recognized that culture is shaped and created, and does not just grow independently. The dictators Mussolini and Franco, in creating new identities for their nations, chose soccer as a means to do this. Franco wanted to help Spain become a respected nation that was strong, unified, and centralized. He did not permit opposition, diversity, regionalism or international influences. He oppressed his opposition in many ways, specifically through the institution of soccer. Mussolini as well chose sport, and specifically soccer, to achieve his political objectives. Mussolini strove to restore Italy to its former glory, and also wanted to show the world the fascist idea of sport. He promoted the use of soccer to build fraternity, strength, and nationalism. He equated a successful, talented soccer team with a strong, respectable Italy that could participate in the events of the world. Though the exact manner by which the institution of soccer was used differed slightly, both Mussolini and Franco consistently, purposefully, and strategically manipulated the sport of soccer to achieve specific political and cultural objectives.