School of Humanities and Social Sciences Molding and Moving Bodies in a Neoliberal World: African Football Labor Migrants in Egypt A Thesis Submitted to The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Egyptology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts In Sociology – Anthropology By Andrea Groves Under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Hill September 2011 Abstract Egypt has a large profitable football industry that increasingly attracts the attention of both football agents wanting to earn income from another market and sub-Saharan football players hoping to further a career by using Egypt as an intermediary between their home countries and Europe. The labor migration of sub-Saharan football players to Egypt has been enabled mainly by neoliberal, market-orientated changes adopted by FIFA, the CAF, the European Union, and the Egyptian football industry itself. Yet more importantly it is the individual actors that implement and take advantage of these hegemonic spheres of influence. This thesis explores how these individual actors and sub-Saharan football players have negotiated the neoliberal project. Specifically it shows the changes brought by localized mutations of neoliberalism as well as its continuities how they affect the ways in which sub-Saharan football players in Egypt move, work, and live. ii Acknowledgments First of all, I would like to thank my thesis advisor Professor Joseph Hill for listening, teaching, and advising me through out this research. I would not have been able to complete this thesis without his guidance. I would also like to thank Professor Mark Westmoreland for his enthusiasm, belief in this subject, and his honesty. I have great gratitude for Professor Agnes Czajka who provided me with great comments and recommendations as well. I remain grateful to the rest of the SAPE staff who have contributed to my education at the American University in Cairo and my experience in Egypt. I cannot thank enough my colleagues Yaqeen Fouad, Ewelina Trzipis, Mouctar Diallo, Hazel Haddon, and Yasemin Ozer, whose support has meant so much to me. I would not have been able to complete this thesis without their positive nature and encouragement. They went beyond the call of duty by keeping me in mind when they were completing their own fieldwork. Sharaf Al-Hourani has selflessly volunteered his time and Arabic skills to help obtain Egyptian Arabic resources. I am indebted to my family who has patiently supported my education in Egypt. Lastly, I thank whole-heartedly to all my informants who sacrificed their free time to talk to me. They helped expand my network and were always willing to help. I look forward to following the rest of their careers wherever it will take them. I wish them the best of luck. Writing this thesis has been a long fulfilling experience. The people I have met along the way have made it even more enriching and I am forever grateful for their time and cooperation. iii Table of Contents Introduction ..............................................................................................................................2 Football and the Social Sciences .................................................................................................. 7 Labor and Commodities ................................................................................................................. 9 Transforming Football Through Neoliberalization and Commercialization .............12 Individual Agency in Global Flows of Labor ..........................................................................15 Methodology.....................................................................................................................................18 Locating my Sample through Facebook ............................................................................................. 19 Chapter Overviews.........................................................................................................................22 1. Why Egypt? A Semi­peripheral Nodal Point............................................................ 25 A History of Egyptian Football....................................................................................................27 Vibrant Football Fandom .............................................................................................................30 Capitalizing Politically on Egyptian National Conscience.................................................33 The Organization of Egyptian Football Leagues...................................................................37 Commercialization and Capital in the Egyptian Football Industry................................38 Lowering of Boundaries ...............................................................................................................41 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................42 2. A Typology of African Football Players in Egypt ....................................................... 43 Independent Players .....................................................................................................................45 Agent­Assisted Players .................................................................................................................46 Club­Recruited Players.................................................................................................................49 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................51 3. Departing Home: Agent Induced Movement........................................................... 52 Migrating From Sub­Saharan Africa to Egypt........................................................................55 Migration Networks in and out of Egypt to Asia and the Americas ...............................64 Other Push and Pull Factors........................................................................................................65 Labor Arbitrage: Territorialization of Values.......................................................................70 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................73 4. Human Capital: Negotiating Neoliberalism, Commodification, and Labor Needs ..................................................................................................................................................... 74 Investments in Human Capital...................................................................................................76 Pretending to be Younger............................................................................................................78 Improving Human Capital Through Training .......................................................................82 Maintaining Human Capital Through Medical Services ....................................................84 Surplus Value: Commodification and Labor Trade Markets............................................86 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................94 5. Dominance and Objectification: Club Rules............................................................ 95 Power, Coaching Staff, and Subjectification...........................................................................97 Club Rules..........................................................................................................................................98 Limitations on Interactions with Women.......................................................................................... 99 Punishment.................................................................................................................................... 106 Enforcing Rules through Fear of Surveillance ................................................................... 108 Cultural Adjustments: Subjective Narratives About Egypt............................................ 111 Differing Discourses About Religion..................................................................................................112 Egyptians are African! : Narratives of Egyptian African Identity..........................................114 Egyptian Style of Play verses “African” Style of Play ..................................................................116 iv Sore Losers: Egyptian Football Fandom ..........................................................................................120 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 122 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................124 Egypt and the Global Industry................................................................................................. 125 Neoliberalism’s Range ............................................................................................................... 126 Commodification and Subjectivity......................................................................................... 128 Closing Remarks: Taking into Account the Egyptian Revolution................................ 129 Bibliography.........................................................................................................................132