The politics of bidding and the politics of planning : a comparison of the FIFA World Cup in Germany and South Africa
Date
2008-12
Authors
Kachkova, Anna
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
This study focuses on the bidding for sports mega-events, their subsequent planning,
and the politics surrounding these processes. The specific examples analysed here are
those of the FIFA Football World Cup™ in Germany in 2006, and the forthcoming
2010 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa. The events are examined against a
backdrop of increasing competition to host mega-events, spurred on by a widespread
belief in the economic benefits that result from hosting, with a frequent disregard for
the social and economic costs involved. Four central research questions are addressed
in the course of this thesis. The first is the role of corporate actors and their influence
on mega-events, the second is the question of what processes characterise both the
bidding and planning stages of an event, including the main actors, agendas and
discourses involved in both of these stages. Thirdly, the significance of hosting the
World Cup in both the German and South African case is examined, and fourthly, the
long-term implications of South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup, both for the
country itself and for developing nations more broadly, is considered. The research
methodology used for this thesis is predominately qualitative, and utilises mostly
secondary sources, including books, academic articles, press articles, and information
off the official websites of the football organisations involved. The main findings of
this thesis are that while both countries in question had seemingly compelling reasons
for hosting the World Cup, and while benefits can stem from the event, the longevity
of such benefits is questionable, and the costs involved can be especially heavy in a
developing context such as that of South Africa. Furthermore, those that stand to
benefit the most from the events include transnational corporate actors, with the
implication that significant financial gains never reach the host economy.
Nevertheless, an ever-increasing willingness on the part of numerous nations to host
mega-events means that the German and South African cases can provide lessons for
future hosts, and South Africa’s World Cup has particular significance as a test case
for mega-events hosted by developing nations. Finally, this thesis stresses the need for
further research in this field. It also aims to break some new ground by examining the
commonalities and contrasts to be found in the bidding and planning processes of a
mega-event as carried out by a developed and a developing nation.
Description
Thesis (MA (Political Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
Political economy, Dissertations -- Political science, Theses -- Political science, Dissertations -- International studies, Theses -- International studies, Federation internationale de football association, World Cup (Soccer) -- Planning, Soccer -- Political aspects -- Germany, Soccer -- Political aspects -- South Africa, Sports tournaments -- South Africa -- Planning, Sports tournaments -- Germany -- Planning, Sports tournaments -- Political aspects