Celebrity humanitarianism
Subtitle: the ideology of global charity
By: Ilan Kapoor
Series: Interventions
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 148
ISBN-13: 9780415783385; 9780415783392; 9780203082270
Subjects: POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General; POLITICAL SCIENCE / General; Humanitarianism; Celebrities; Charities; Capitalism
Description: "In the last two decades especially, we have witnessed the rise of 'celebrity' forms of global humanitarianism and charity work, spearheaded by entertainment stars, billionaires, and activist NGOs (e.g. Bob Geldof, Bono, Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Bill Gates, George Soros, Save Darfur, Medeçins Sans Frontières). This book examines this new phenomenon, arguing that celebrity humanitarianism legitimates, and indeed promotes, neoliberal capitalism and global inequality.Drawing on Slavoj Žižek's work, the book shows how celebrity humanitarianism, far from being altruistic, is significantly contaminated and ideological: it is most often self-serving, helping to promote institutional aggrandizement and the celebrity 'brand'; it advances consumerism and corporate capitalism, and rationalizes the very global inequality it seeks to redress; it is fundamentally depoliticizing, despite its pretensions to 'activism'; and it contributes to a 'postdemocratic' political landscape, which appears outwardly open and consensual, but is in fact managed by unaccountable elites"--

"This book examines the new phenomenon of celebrity humanitarianism arguing that legitimates neoliberal capitalism and global inequality"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.