Capello’s Mechanical Solidarity

Sociologist Emile Durkheim drew a distinction between societies which were bound by mechanical solidarity, and those which were characterised by organic solidarity.

Mechanical Solidarity

Mechanical solidarity was prevalent in basic pre-modern societies when cohesion was based upon similarities among individuals in a society, and largely predicated on shared routines. The metaphor of the machine captures this type of solidarity, as a mechanical process is sufficient to sustain cohesion. In more advanced societies, organic solidarity is realised as populations become more diverse and complex. Although individuals in these societies perform a diverse range of tasks and often have different values, social order is attained due to complex interdependencies between individuals and groups. The complexities of modern societies thus require the metaphor of a biological entity to represent how solidarity is sustained, despite greater societal variety and difference.

At this stage under Fabio Capello’s stewardship, England are still operating with reference to what could be termed mechanical solidarity. At the point when Capello took over, following the Eriksson and McClaren years, England were performing as a disjointed collection of individuals. The Capello project thus required the reconciliation of England’s players to a system. A discernible pattern soon emerged which provided a tactical basis from which subtle deviations were possible. In simple terms, England’s shape is now built around a powerful centre forward and a reinforced midfield base.

Organic Solidarity

However, although the qualifying campaign was successful there is still a feeling that Capello has attained mechanical rather than organic solidarity. One can almost discern the pounding of Capello’s tactical hammer following his endeavours to wring some shape from the England team. The whole is now functioning but more like a mechanical machine than a biological entity. Brazil’s sides of old provide perhaps the clearest example of sides attaining organic solidarity. They operated as a smooth functioning whole despite allowing the creative expression of the individual players. Spain are also a fine contemporary exemplar of organic solidarity on the football pitch.

England’s parts are aligned and functioning well, but the team is still operating as situated components rather than as a more then the sum of its parts organic whole. The left side of England’s midfield demonstrates a further indication of this mechanical, rather than organic, solidarity. Left midfield had been an ongoing problem area for England: with the shape obtained from Capello’s tactical clarity this is no longer such a clear issue. But it feels as if it has been fixed as a faulty machine would be fixed i.e. by hammering the parts into shape and painting over the mended area.

Unless England attain some serious momentum during World Cup 2010 it seems as if they will be required to seek success as a high functioning mechanical unit. There must remain a suspicion that, against more organic opposition, England’s parts might start to look disjointed once more and that mechanical solidarity could quickly break down into mechanical malfunction.