From the Stands to the Arena of Social Movements: Post-2011 Football Terrace Chants in Tunisia

Main Article Content

Soumaya Abdellatif
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1260-1749
Safouane Trabelsi
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0114-4503
Zahia Ouadah Bedidi
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5561-4507

Abstract

This paper discusses the evolution of social criticism reflected in the Tunisian Ultra groups’ football chants and investigates the Ultras’ involvement in social movements. To address this issue, we developed a database of mostly published Ultra songs found on social media which was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the Ultra phenomenon in Tunisia established its influence from the first decade of 2000, as a social pattern criticizing power, through confrontation of the regime inside the stadiums, and culturally through the production of a set of critically-loaded artistic expressions. We conclude that the extension of the circle of influence of Ultra groups is indicative of an overthrowing of cultural legitimacy standards but significantly is also reflective of the emergence of new social actors capable of redistributing power through their intense politicization of interactions that prior to 2011 had been mostly social.

Article Details

Section
Articles (refereed)
Author Biography

Soumaya Abdellatif, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE/ ISSHT, Tunisia

Dr. Soumaya Abdellatif is an Associate Professor of sociology at Ajman University. Graduated from Strasbourg University in France, she is deputy Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Center at Ajman University since November 2021. She is a member of ISA (International Sociological Association) and member of the Project Redemar (Interdisciplinary Network of studies on Demography of the Arab World) Awarded in September 2021 by the ANR (French National Agency for Research). She is also founding member of the Center of Anthropology and African studies in Sousse with Bayrot University (Germany). She participated to many Doctorial Schools and trainings in Switzerland, Canada, France, Tunisia and Jordan. She coordinated studies in Mena region and She is external Gender expert in CAWTAR, (Center of Arab Women for Training and Research). She is interested in parenthood, gender issues, kinship, citizenship, cultural practices and migratory identities.