Autopsy #14 The Falklands, the Final, and Empty Nationalism

In this week's Autopsy we react to the controversy that followed the England-Argentina World Cup semi-final, when Argentine players held up a sign referencing the Falkland Islands. We are not a football podcast, and this episode is not about football. It is about what happens when empty nationalism spills into international relations and makes a country look unreasonable to the rest of the world.

Whatever the legal arguments of the early 19th century, 3,500 people have lived there for generations and do not want to be part of Argentina. Demanding they be removed is not a principled position on colonial history. It is empty nationalism that costs Argentina diplomatic goodwill, footballing support, and any claim to being a reasonable actor on the world stage, for a few rocky islands that will not fill a single Argentine stomach.

This podcast is an individual project between us, Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. We are supported by our producer Stefani Obradovic from Western Bubble Insights & Strategy. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at thewesternbubble@gmail.com.