Sports and National Identity - Depetris-Chauvin, Durante and Campante (2020)

Question 1

focus of the paper

Answer 1

less studied channel (sporting success in soccer/football qualifying matches) that shape positive national feelings

national sports teams attract widespread attention/pride and can be an important part of national identity in smaller countries

Question 2

research design

Answer 2

using Afrobarometer surveys collected among representative population samples

exploiting the fact that surveys are conducted days before key qualifying matches and after

application of DD design
- treatment as winning the match while treatment*post is the period after a winning match

Question 3

data sources

Answer 3

FIFA

Afrobarometer surveys

armed conflict location and event data

Question 4

findings

Answer 4

reduction of 37% of the rate of people claiming stronger ethnic than national identity after a winning match

biggest drop in ethnic affiliation after a win, immediate drop after a draw and no effect after a loss

no differential effect post-victory by individual gender, age, urban-rural residence, etc.

larger effects in traditional ‘rivalry’ matches and squads that are more ethnically diverse

Question 5

real world impacts

Answer 5

countries that win decisive AFCON qualifying matches experience significantly less armed conflict in the 6 months afterwards (relative to countries that just fail to qualify) with a reduction of 9%

another piece of evidence that shows how the aftermath of football matches changes attitudes, politics and outcomes