The Politics of Happiness

As we all move closer to the much anticipated opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup, it's a time when bigger themes than football will surely enter the global conversation.

A theme that comes to mind is the notion that many of the serious problems and challenges that we face on our planet as humans divided by history, race, nationality, politics, social values, religion, and sexual orientation, can all either be accessed, addressed, or even explained by the great sport of football. 

The World Cup in particular is one of those events, like the Olympics, that brings us together as one people -- citizens of the world -- all for the love of the beautiful game. Hence, we are about to begin a month-long period when we the world can put aside differences and think about all of the things that bind us rather than separate us.  

I've come across a couple good reads that inspired me to investigate this theme further. One of those books was How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization by Franklin Foer. Another, and a predecessor, is Football Against the Enemy by Simon Kuper. Both of these books do a fairly good job reasoning how football not only explains quite a bit about who we are as people, but also brings to light the barriers that stand between us and how we might begin to remove those barriers. An argument could certainly be made that the sport (and spirit) of football is the ultimate global conversation starter. The ultimate social network perhaps?

I also recently came across a white paper on Twitter that struck me as relevant to this conversation. It's called "The Politics of Happiness - A Manifesto Towards the Future of One Earth". This manifesto was published by Demos Finland and WWF Finland in draft form and translated to English. Very interesting read and relevant to us all in a way that explains what it means to live well as good global citizens:

"Most of us appreciate happiness more than economic wealth. In a democratic society this should be a matter of politics. We are in a situation where new challenges require new mechanisms. In politics of happiness is about developing and making use of these mechanisms. The research on happiness has increased in recent years. With the insight it offers us, building sustainable happiness should be easier than before. The manifesto tells how more peaceful rhythm, participation, meaningful action together, creation of culture of well-being and deeper relationships with others make building happiness possible and just."

Living well, in the context of a peaceful global community, is something that I think about on a daily basis. For me, football is the conversation starter for the content in "The Politics of Happiness" to be addressed and deliberated on by the billions of fans (and citizens of nations) around the world. The World Cup is that special event when the conversation is amplified for the entire world to hear, understand, and react to. 

My greatest hope for the 2010 World Cup, other than the unlikely Greece or United States finals appearance, is that the 32 teams competing can bring together the entire world to the same stump and tell a story of global responsibility, of peace, of caring, and of happiness. 

Let the games begin!