Prologue: The paradoxes of American insularity, exceptionalism and imperialism

Soccer and the American Dream

“…The themes of insularity and exceptionalism have for over a century been positioned at the core of previous explanations regarding the development of America (Dyreson, 2005) and relate to the view that America"s history and its structure of government has given the nation a unique role to play in the world (Foer, 2004). Dyreson (2005) has persuasively argued that social historians and in particular, Turner"s (1920) landmark thesis, The Significance of the Frontier in American History, have had a greater impact on views regarding American identity than any other written on the subject. In constructing his argument, Turner has persuasively argued that American isolationism and insularity from European culture has facilitated a unique environment for growth to take place (Dyreson, 2005).…”

“…Dyreson (2005) has persuasively argued that social historians and in particular, Turner"s (1920) landmark thesis, The Significance of the Frontier in American History, have had a greater impact on views regarding American identity than any other written on the subject. In constructing his argument, Turner has persuasively argued that American isolationism and insularity from European culture has facilitated a unique environment for growth to take place (Dyreson, 2005). The unique "frontier" environment posited by Turner and others arguably defined a society that was attempting to differentiate itself from its colonial links with Europe and much of the rest of the world (Dyreson, 2005).…”

“…In constructing his argument, Turner has persuasively argued that American isolationism and insularity from European culture has facilitated a unique environment for growth to take place (Dyreson, 2005). The unique "frontier" environment posited by Turner and others arguably defined a society that was attempting to differentiate itself from its colonial links with Europe and much of the rest of the world (Dyreson, 2005). This theme is continued by Markovits and Hellerman (2001) in their much heralded book entitled Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism.…”

“…American exceptionalism can be arguably traced to the latter part of the nineteenth century. A combination of insularity and political imperialism have according to Dyreson (2005) created an ironic symmetry which is bound by a national devotion to sport. The paradox created is reflected within the central premise of Markovits and Hellerman"s (2001) work and later within Szymanski and Zimbalist"s (2005) Americans perceive soccer as a foreign game and by deduction, inferior to the home-grown national trinity of American football, basketball and baseball (Cousens and Slack, 2002).…”

“…Within the views of American exceptionalists there is theoretically a perception of intellectual disdain for sports which have connotations of global and mass identities. Americans selfevidently play exceptional soccer but a perception of American exceptionalism arguably creates a barrier against including soccer in the American stable of national pastimesa paradox indeed (Dyreson, 2005).…”