Football and regime's legitimacy in Algeria

Abstract EN

This study understands legitimacy as what refers to a society-authority relationship where people's beliefs about the right and acceptance of their own authority are a basis for the rule.

The study distinguishes between the legitimacy of the state and the legitimacy of the regime.

Therefore, our ultimate aim is to answer questions about the political potential of football in supporting the regime's legitimacy in Algeria by employing a historical approach that spans different eras of the country.

With football being more than just a beloved sport for Algerians but also deeply ingrained in politics, the study findings revealed how football has been utilized politically both on the national and international level.