BOLTING THE DOOR AFTER ALL LIFE HAS FLED:

Euro 2004: Soccer and Economic Strategy: The defensive political and economic strategies used by key European powers bear an eerie likeness to a well-known defensive strategy used in soccer called catenaccio. In light of the European soccer championship, Uwe Bott explores the links between European nations' economic performance and their styles of soccer play. (Uwe Bott, June 30, 2004, The Globalist)

In the late 1930s, an Austrian (definitely “old” Europe) developed a defensive system as coach of the Swiss national team (also “old”, albeit neutral, Europe).

He named his system “verrou” — after the French (“old” Europe) word for door bolt. The system was further perfected by an Argentine (almost “old” Europe, at least in their own minds) in the 1960s, when he coached one of Europe’s most successful teams, Inter Milan of Italy.

It was in Milan where the defensive style — that became the recipe for most of Europe’s soccer glory up to this day — received its currently well-recognized name of catenaccio.

This name essentially has the same meaning as the French word verrou — or door bolt. [...]

By the end of the 1960s...Europeans were beginning to suffer from their first of several bouts with eurosclerosis.

Unfortunately, they fought this condition with the economic and political equivalent of the catenaccio (Remember: door bolt).

The growing membership of the European Union built ever-higher fences around the Union, strengthening their economic defense and in the process stifling all creativity and competition.

No wonder that, some 35 years later, Germany is confronted with chronic double-digit unemployment. The French treasury is running short on funds and quite generally the rentier-economies of the “old” Europe cannot compete.

Conservatives, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, Socialists, Gaullists or whatever they might call themselves all agree on one thing: Change is bad.

Still drawing on their accumulated economic wealth, European dinosaurs have been allowed to maintain their calcified policy prescriptions, albeit without creating immediate political and economic chaos.

Thus, the catenaccio still is a ‘success’, because the old Europe has avoided defeat so far. Smokescreens of new unifying projects have helped the political establishment to steer clear of much needed reforms.

On the contrary, in early June of 2004, France and Germany decided to dust off an old favorite of theirs: Industrial policy, the epitome of economic catenaccio.

They have agreed to find and foster “European champions” and for the moment we are not talking about soccer. Rather, they think of large industrial complexes that will finally obliterate their “pesky” organically-grown, American rivals.

But all of this defensive play will only serve the short-term political expediency of those who govern.

The yet-to-be approved European Constitution takes economic regimentation to a new — and heretofore unmatched — political level.

And even that is highly doubtful — considering the disastrous results for all parties in national government during the recent election for the European Parliament.

Moreover, in the long run this strategy guarantees the economic defeat of the “old” Europe. Much as in soccer — and perversely so — most European economic policymakers are deeply satisfied with a scoreless tie.

The eye-stabbingly dull game of soccer is the perfect expression of the European soul, or rather lack of one.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 3, 2004 12:10 PM