Elite Slavery and Professional Football: An Interview With Alexander Rothenberg
What do slave traders and football agents have in common? Alexander Rothenberg's new book examines the production and use of elite bodies, connecting historical practices of slavery to the working conditions of 'wonderkids' in contemporary sports and entertainment.
Billy Sawyers: Can you tell us a bit about your academic and intellectual background? How did you first become interested in this field?
Alexander Rothenberg: I studied history and german at the University of Cologne, where Professor Michael Zeuske taught Iberian and Latin American history. His seminars and lectures sparked my interest in the transatlantic slave trade and slavery more broadly. During a discussion about a book he was completing on slave traders, Michael remarked that he was still waiting for someone (in his words, “a brave student”) to compare slave traders with football agents – a suggestion that became my starting point and led me to pursue this topic ever since. Later on, we both moved successively to the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS), where I came into contact with the concept of asymmetrical dependencies, which had a significant influence on my work.
BS: Could you explain the concept of “elite slavery” (Elitesklaverei) and what inspired you to draw parallels between historical practices and modern professional football?
AR: The concept of “elite slavery” refers to forms of dependency and control where individuals, often through their bodies or talents, are subjected to intense oversight and conditioning for very specific purposes. Historically, examples include the enslavement of military slaves, palace eunuchs and castrato singers – each controlled and molded to perform specific elite roles.
“Elite bodies are crafted through a combination of discipline, supervision and an environment that maximizes performance while limiting autonomy, turning individuals into highly specialized, high-performance assets.”
In professional football today, similar dynamics can be observed, especially in the ways young athletes are recruited, trained from childhood and subjected to intensive discipline to fulfill high-stakes roles in elite sports. The idea of “elite slavery” illustrates how control, exploitation and power continue to shape these “elite bodies” in both past and present contexts, even if the legal and social frameworks have evolved.
BS: Your book discusses the “production of elite bodies.” How would you describe the processes involved in this production, both historically and in the contemporary sports context?
AR: Producing “elite bodies” involves a series of intensive, highly regulated training and conditioning practices, often beginning in early childhood. Historically, for example, military slaves and eunuchs underwent specialized training and strict socialization processes to prepare them for exclusive roles. In the context of modern sports, particularly football, academies perform a similar role. Players are selected young, put through years of regimented training, controlled routines, and constant evaluation. In both contexts, elite bodies are crafted through a combination of discipline, supervision and an environment that maximizes performance while limiting autonomy, turning individuals into highly specialized, high-performance assets.
BS: Who or what do you see as the biggest influences on your scholarly work?
AR: The book is deeply influenced by several thinkers and institutions. Rob Nixon’s concept of slow violence has shaped my understanding of long-term harm in dependency relationships, while Beate Rössler’s work on autonomy helped me to analyze the balance between control and freedom in elite sports. The BCDSS has expanded my perspective on complex dependency structures beyond traditional slavery. Michael Zeuske’s research on slavery provided essential historical depth, and of course, Michel Foucault’s ideas on power and discipline are foundational for understanding how institutions like football academies regulate and mold bodies across time. Each has been crucial in developing my approach to the production of elite bodies.
“The idolization of elite performance and the commodification of youth talent foster a culture where we, as a society, come to see young people as assets to be optimized and consumed.”
BS: Could you talk about a particular chapter or section of the book that you’re especially proud of? Why is it meaningful to you?
AR: One chapter that I’m especially proud of focuses on the impact of elite asymmetrical dependencies on the training of children, teenagers and young adults in the entertainment industry. This section delves into how these young individuals, often at young ages, are drawn into highly structured, demanding environments that can dominate their formative years. They’re frequently placed under the control of powerful institutions and adults – managers, agents, recruiters – who have significant authority over their futures and decisions.
This topic is meaningful to me because it highlights how these dependencies don’t just affect the individuals involved; they shape societal values at large. The idolization of elite performance and the commodification of youth talent foster a culture where we, as a society, come to see young people as assets to be optimized and consumed (at least their performance). This has far-reaching implications, shaping how we think about talent, success and self-worth – especially for young people who see these athletes as role models – but also how we define labor and legal age. Through this chapter, I try to illuminate these connections, sparking a broader conversation about the ethical responsibilities we hold in promoting and consuming elite performance culture.
BS: Are there other fields beyond professional sports where you see similar dynamics of dependency and elite body production?
„Profi-Fußballer sind die Elitesklaven von heute“: Alexander Rothenberg im Hypothese-Podcast der Uni Bonn. Jetzt reinhören.
AR: Yes, similar dynamics of dependency and elite body production are evident in fields beyond professional sports. The fashion industry, for instance, often demands intense physical conditioning and places models in highly controlled environments, especially at a young age. The music industry, too, shows striking parallels, from the strict regimens imposed on K-Pop idols to the exploitation experienced by artists like Britney Spears, who faced extreme control over her personal and professional life. Child actors and ‘wonderkids’ in entertainment face years of rigid training and pressure, which often results in a dependency on managers, agents or even family members who control their careers and finances. The porn industry also reflects such dynamics, with its history of power imbalances and control over performers’ bodies.
BS: Why, in your view, is it important that books like this one are published in open access?
AR: This was a decision by the publishers, but personally I believe it to be very important. Especially when writing about dependencies and global, deeply systemic issues, equal access to knowledge is key. Although there still is a language barrier as it’s written in German, students, researchers and anyone else interested in the topic can access my work and that’s simply amazing.
