Football as a tactical innovation for mobilization: a study of FC Barcelona and the Catalan independence movement

Abstract

The Catalan Independence Movement is the movement in the Northern region of Spain which aims to be independent from Spain cause of problems in politics and economic. The Catalan mobilization not only marches on the street but also plays their role through the Spanish political procedure. In Catalan, the referendum on independence was issued in 2009-2011, 2014, and 2017. This study focuses on the Catalan mobilization tactical innovation which uses football as a tool against Spain. In this case, football which was used mean ‘FC Barcelona,’ one of the famous football club in the world.

This study aims to identify how football play role in the Catalan struggle. With the theory of tactical Innovation, social movement will disrupt normal situation to attract interest of group’s opponent and the society (McAdam and Snow, 2010). This study explores through sources such as analyzing mainly research articles, interviews, reports, and other media outlets.

FC Barcelona has an impact on the Catalan Independence Movement in 3 three dimensions. First, Barça as representation of the Catalan values. Second, Barça as a save space for Catalan mobilization. And third, Barça as an instrument to foster Catalan identity. The club promoted the Catalan struggle issue to the world. One of the important keys to achieving aims is the creativity of the new tactical forms; therefore, Catalan mobilization use ‘football’ as creativity to create the new tactical innovation to protest.