Transnational Transnational Celebrity ActivismCelebrity Activism
Asteris HuliarasAsteris Huliaras ProfessorProfessor Department of Politics and International Department of Politics and International RelationsRelations University of the Peloponnese, GreeceUniversity of the Peloponnese, Greece
Research questions…Research questions…The study of the role of individuals in international The study of the role of individuals in international
relations theory has been mostly restricted to relations theory has been mostly restricted to official agents of political authority (presidents, official agents of political authority (presidents, prime ministers, UN secretaries etc). prime ministers, UN secretaries etc).
Is celebrity activism a distinct factor in international Is celebrity activism a distinct factor in international relations that merits attention ? Does it simply relations that merits attention ? Does it simply reflect these figures’ image-making strategies ? reflect these figures’ image-making strategies ? Does it represents little more than an ephemeral Does it represents little more than an ephemeral engagement with important issues ? Does it has engagement with important issues ? Does it has any measurable impact on development and any measurable impact on development and North/South relations ? North/South relations ?
Is celebrity activism a new Is celebrity activism a new phenomenonphenomenon ?: ?:
No !!!No !!! Think of Bob Dylan, Think of Bob Dylan,
Neil Young, John Neil Young, John Lennon, George Lennon, George Harrison, Jane Harrison, Jane Fonda or even 19Fonda or even 19thth century celebrities century celebrities like Lord Byron.like Lord Byron.
What’s newWhat’s new::1.1. ScaleScale (the numbers (the numbers
involved and the involved and the intensity of the intensity of the phenomenon are phenomenon are unprecedented)unprecedented)
2.2. Content (celebrities Content (celebrities tend to be less anti-tend to be less anti-establishment) establishment)
TThe Causeshe Causes(1)(1)
Structure: Structure: GlobalizationGlobalization
Pull FactorsPull Factors1.1. The United The United
Nations (Goodwill Nations (Goodwill ambassadors)ambassadors)
2.2. Non-Non-Governmental Governmental OrganisationsOrganisations
TThe Causeshe Causes(2)(2)
Push FactorsPush Factors1.1. Power (and the freedom to use it)Power (and the freedom to use it)2.2. PublicityPublicity3.3. Real InterestReal Interest4.4. DiffusionDiffusion
ConsequencesConsequences
Important in terms of public Important in terms of public awarenessawareness (the power of soft news)(the power of soft news)
ImportantImportant in terms of fund-raising in terms of fund-raising (hundreds of $ million)(hundreds of $ million)
LimitedLimited in terms of influencing public in terms of influencing public policies policies (mainly in agenda-setting)(mainly in agenda-setting)
CriticismsCriticisms Personal agendaPersonal agenda Naïve – They do not understand the Naïve – They do not understand the
issuesissues They tend to be conservativeThey tend to be conservative Lack of legitimacyLack of legitimacy The chasm between celebrities’ The chasm between celebrities’
lifestyle lifestyle and real life in Africa is and real life in Africa is shocking.shocking.
Mia FarrowMia Farrow
ConclusionsConclusions Modern celebrity activism is different from the Modern celebrity activism is different from the
recent past both in scale and contentrecent past both in scale and content Pull (UN and NGOs) and push (publicity, diffusion Pull (UN and NGOs) and push (publicity, diffusion
etc) factors explain the phenomenonetc) factors explain the phenomenon Celebrities are very influential in increasing Celebrities are very influential in increasing
public awareness on development issues and in public awareness on development issues and in fund-raising for humanitarian purposes.fund-raising for humanitarian purposes.
They are far less effective in influencing policies. They are far less effective in influencing policies. However, their political leverage is increasing However, their political leverage is increasing spectacularly when they build coalitions and act spectacularly when they build coalitions and act within larger networks.within larger networks.
