The hooligan as ‘internal’ other? Football fans,ultras culture and nesting intra-orientalisms

Abstract

Football fans, specifically fan associations (navijačke udruge), are sometimes depicted as stereotypical of Balkan ‘mentality’, drawing on associations with violence, organised crime and examples of ‘primitive’ behaviour and attitudes at football matches. In this paper, I argue that the drawing of such associations may explored in terms of a nesting intra-orientalism, whereby non-European ‘others’ are constructed at different levels typically within a state, rather than projected outside to other geographical regions or states. On the basis of my experience as a member of an ultra-left fan association in Zagreb, I explore several characteristics of ultras’ group participation – focusing on what they referred to as the ‘supporters’ world’ (navijački svijet) and ultras’ culture (ultras kultura). I label three characteristics that also define the wider contemporary ‘everyday geopolitics’ in the Balkans at present. On the basis of these three characteristics, I evaluate the hypothesis of a nesting ‘intra-orientalism’ and the ideological purposes it may serve.