The Incursion of Politics into Football
An Analytical Study of the Mauricio Macri Case in Argentina (1995-2015)
Keywords:
football, leadership, Mauricio Macri, politics, powerAbstract
This research explores the intersection between football and politics in Argentina, focusing on the case of Mauricio Macri and his presidency of Club Atlético Boca Juniors from 1995 to 2007 as a platform for visibility, legitimacy, and the accumulation of political capital. Through a qualitative and documentary approach, and drawing on theoretical frameworks by Michel Foucault and Zygmunt Bauman, the study examines how football, particularly in a country like Argentina where the sport holds deep cultural significance, can be strategically used to build political leadership. The main hypothesis posits that Macri’s role at Boca Juniors served as a springboard for his eventual entry into national politics. Rather than a detached or apolitical experience, his tenure at the club functioned as a rehearsal for management, public communication, and personal branding. Through strategic messaging, a business-oriented leadership model, and intense media exposure, Macri crafted a public image associated with efficiency, modernisation, and success, qualities he would later translate into his political platform. The findings confirm that football not only serves as a symbolic tool for established governments but also as a fertile ground for those seeking to build legitimacy from outside the traditional political system. The mass appeal of Boca Juniors, combined with its media visibility and emotional significance for fans, enabled Macri to develop a leadership style that fused emotional resonance with technical competence. The thesis concludes that Mauricio Macri’s trajectory represents a paradigmatic case of how a sports executive can transition into the political arena, supported by the symbolic capital and communication strategies cultivated within the football sphere. Thus, the study offers a reverse reading of a familiar narrative: politics may enter football, but football can also serve as a gateway into politics.
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