EUROVISION AND POLITICS
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHr4gKRaos
The Eurovision Song Contest is known for being colourful, dramatic, and very theatrical. Every year, millions of people around Europe and the world watch it. It is one of the biggest live music competitions.
However, the 70th Eurovision in Vienna was different from other years. Instead of only focusing on music, many people talked about politics, boycotts, and whether the contest is still fair.
This year, Bulgaria won Eurovision for the first time. The song “Bangaranga,” sung by Dara, scored 516 points. Both the professional judges and the public voted for it.
Even so, there was a lot of political debate. The slogan “United By Music” felt strange to many people because of tensions linked to the war in Gaza.
Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands decided to boycott the contest. They said Israel should not take part during the war and that Eurovision is not politically neutral.
Some people compared this to 2022, when Russia was removed after the war in Ukraine. Critics said this shows a “double standard” because different countries are treated differently.
The Spanish Prime Minister supported Spain’s decision. He said Spain wanted to take a “principled” position, even if it meant not joining the contest.
Many fans had different opinions. Some thought the boycott was brave. Others said music should stay separate from politics.
This debate is part of a bigger question: do boycotts really work? Some experts say they can pressure countries. Others think they are only symbolic.
Even today, big events like Eurovision, the Olympic Games, and the FIFA World Cup often become political. Although they are meant to unite people, they can also show disagreement.
Eurovision is still very popular. Many fans say it celebrates music and diversity. Others think it is becoming too political. The debate is likely to continue.
1. VOCABULARY MATCH
PART A
Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
| Vocabulary | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. double standard | c. refusal to take part in something |
| 2. camp | g. ability to be trusted or believed |
| 3. boycott | a. funny style that is very dramatic or exaggerated |
| 4. divisive | h. to remove someone from a competition |
| 5. credibility | d. a public opinion or position |
| 6. authenticity | e. strong disagreement between groups |
| 7. disqualify | f. being real or true |
| 8. stance | b. unfair rule that is different for different people |
PART B
Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
| Vocabulary | Definition |
|---|---|
| 9. principled | n. competition between groups or countries |
| 10. controversy | l. actions to create political or social change |
| 11. backlash | m. based on strong moral beliefs |
| 12. overshadow | i. strong negative reaction from people |
| 13. sanctions | o. public disagreement about something important |
| 14. rivalry | k. something that becomes more important than something else |
| 15. activism | d. official punishment against a country |
| 16. commercialized | p. influenced too much by money or business |
2. SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words with the correct synonyms.
| Word | Synonym |
|---|---|
| 1. boycott | c. important moment |
| 2. stance | g. reputation |
| 3. divisive | f. conflict |
| 4. milestone | e. watched |
| 5. over-the-top | a. position |
| 6. credibility | j. divided |
| 7. tuned in | i. campaign |
| 8. tension | d. refusal |
| 9. authenticity | b. originality |
| 10. campaign | h. excessive / exaggerated |
3. PRE-READING DISCUSSION
A. Politics & Entertainment
- Should politics and entertainment be separate?
- Can music competitions be neutral?
- Why do cultural events become political?
- Should countries at war join international events?
- Do celebrities influence politics?
B. International Controversies
- Russia banned from sports competitions
- Political protests at the Olympic Games
- FIFA World Cup controversies in Qatar
- Cultural boycotts of countries in conflict
- Social media campaigns against companies
4. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
- Why did several countries boycott Eurovision 2026?
- Why were some people accusing the EBU of double standards?
- How did Spain respond to Eurovision this year?
- Why did some viewers question Israel’s televoting success?
- What did Pedro Sánchez mean by “the right side of history”?
- Why do some fans think Eurovision is losing authenticity?
- How has Eurovision reflected politics throughout its history?
- Should cultural competitions remain politically neutral?
- Do you think Spain made the correct decision?
- Can music help reduce international tensions?
5 .SCENARIOS: “What would you do?”
1. THE EUROVISION BOYCOTT
Several countries refuse to participate in Eurovision because of political tensions involving another competing country.
→ Would you support the boycott?
→ Should music competitions stay politically neutral?
→ How would fans react?
2. THE SUPERMARKET BOYCOTT
A supermarket chain is accused of exploiting workers and paying extremely low salaries. Social media campaigns encourage consumers to stop shopping there.
→ Would you join the boycott?
→ Can consumers really change company behavior?
→ How should the company respond?
3. THE WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY
A country hosting the FIFA World Cup is criticized for human rights issues. Some fans want their national teams to boycott the tournament.
→ Should sports and politics remain separate?
→ Is it fair to punish athletes?
→ Would a boycott create real change?
4. THE CELEBRITY SCANDAL
A famous singer makes controversial political comments online. Many fans begin boycotting the artist’s music, concerts, and merchandise.
→ Should celebrities be judged for their political opinions?
→ Can social media destroy reputations too easily?
→ Would you stop supporting the artist?
5. THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
A technology company is accused of sharing user data and violating privacy rights. Activists encourage people to delete the app and stop using its products.
→ How dependent are people on technology companies?
→ Are digital boycotts effective?
→ Would most users really stop using the app?
6. THE OLYMPIC GAMES PROTEST
Several athletes plan to protest during the Olympic Games because of an international conflict.
→ Should athletes use sports events for activism?
→ Would protests damage the spirit of the Olympics?
→ How should organizers react?
7. THE FAST-FOOD BOYCOTT
A fast-food company becomes associated with a political conflict, and customers in several countries begin avoiding the brand.
→ Do international companies become political too easily?
→ Can boycotts seriously damage global brands?
→ How should companies stay neutral?
8. THE UNIVERSITY CAMPAIGN
Students organize a boycott against a university partnership with a foreign company accused of unethical business practices.
→ Should universities become involved in activism?
→ Can student protests influence institutions?
→ Where is the line between activism and disruption?
9. THE FASHION BRAND CONTROVERSY
A clothing company is accused of using factories with unsafe working conditions and child labor.
→ Would you continue buying the brand?
→ Are ethical products becoming more important?
→ Do consumers care enough to change their habits?
10. THE STREAMING PLATFORM
A streaming platform releases a controversial documentary that causes political outrage. Thousands of users cancel their subscriptions.
→ Should platforms control controversial content?
→ Is cancel culture becoming too powerful?
→ Can public backlash threaten freedom of expression?
11. THE EUROVISION SPONSOR
A major sponsor of Eurovision is criticized because of environmental damage and political connections. Activists demand the competition remove the sponsor.
→ Should sponsors be judged ethically?
→ Is it possible for global events to avoid controversy?
→ Would removing sponsors solve the problem?
12. THE TOURISM BOYCOTT
Tourists stop visiting a country because of political instability and human rights concerns.
→ Can tourism boycotts damage a country’s economy?
→ Is it fair to punish ordinary workers and businesses?
→ Would you avoid travelling to certain countries for political reasons?
6. BOYCOTT
Choose ONE of the companies above and answer the following questions: Would you boycott this company? Why or why not?
- Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola has been criticized for using too much water in countries such as India. Local communities said this left less water for farmers and families. The company has also faced criticism for poor working conditions and problems with workers’ rights in some Latin American countries. - Zara
Zara has been criticized because some factories connected to the company had unsafe working conditions and very low salaries. Critics also say fast fashion creates waste and encourages companies to produce cheap clothes too quickly. - Nike
Nike became famous for scandals involving child labor and sweatshops in the 1990s and early 2000s. Although the company later tried to improve factory conditions, many people still believe some workers are treated unfairly and paid too little. - Apple
Apple has faced criticism because workers in some factories in China worked very long hours in stressful conditions. Reports also connected these factory conditions to serious mental health problems among workers. - Amazon
Amazon has been criticized because warehouse workers say they work under a lot of pressure and are watched closely by managers and technology systems. Some employees also complain about short breaks and unrealistic work expectations. - Meta/Facebook
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has been criticized for not protecting users’ private information well enough. People also believe the company allowed false information and harmful content to spread online to increase profits. - Shein
Shein has faced criticism because some factories connected to the company reportedly have unsafe conditions and very low pay for workers. The company has also been accused of copying clothing designs and creating too much waste through fast fashion. - Nestlé
Nestlé has been criticized because of reports about child labor on cocoa farms connected to its products. The company has also faced criticism for using too much water and creating large amounts of plastic waste. - Volkswagen
Volkswagen became involved in a major scandal when the company admitted it used software to cheat pollution tests in millions of cars. Many customers felt angry because they believed they were buying environmentally friendly vehicles. - BP (British Petroleum)
BP received worldwide criticism after a huge oil spill in 2010 caused serious environmental damage in the Gulf of Mexico. The disaster harmed sea animals, polluted the ocean, and affected people who depended on fishing and tourism for work. - McDonald’s
McDonald’s has been criticized for selling unhealthy food that may contribute to obesity and other health problems. The company has also faced criticism about low wages and poor working conditions for some workers. - H&M
H&M has been accused of using factories with poor working conditions and low pay in some developing countries. Environmental groups also criticize the company because fast fashion creates pollution and large amounts of waste. - Starbucks
Starbucks has faced criticism because some workers say the company tried to stop employees from joining labor unions. Critics also argue that the company creates unnecessary waste by using too many disposable cups. - TikTok
TikTok has been criticized because of concerns about user privacy and data security. Some people also believe the platform can negatively affect teenagers’ mental health because of excessive social media use. - Tesla
Tesla has faced criticism over reports of difficult working conditions and discrimination in some factories. The company has also been accused of exaggerating the abilities of its self-driving technology.
7. FILL IN THE BLANKS :
1. The Eurovision contest is happening in Austria this year. They are the competition.
2. This year 35 countries will be competing. In 2002, it was 24 countries. What is another way to say 24? .
3. The Eurovision Song Contest's first year was 1956. Because it was the first year this event was happening, it was the event .
4. Last year Austria was the winner and Israel was the second place. Having the second place means that Israel was the .
They had this position two times .
5. The Israel - Palestine topic divides people and creates a lot of hostility between them. This topic is considered to be very .
6. If you had a conflict with someone and stopped talking, then you had a
.
7. You have tickets to the event but they are at the highest and the most distant seats from the stage. They are also the cheapest tickets that you were able to find. So, the place where you are seated at the event is called the seats.
8. If many people are respecting and admiring Spain´s actions, then they are
to Spain.
9. If watching Eurovision live in concert is one of your dreams, then it is on your
.
10. If you are not a fan of Eurovision, then it is not your .
If you like Eurovision but you are not very proud about it , then it is a .
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