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 Is celebrity activism a distinct factor in international relations that merits attention ? international relations that merits attention ? Does it simply reflect these figures’ image-Does it simply reflect these figures’ image-making strategies ? Does it represents little making strategies ? Does it represents little more than an ephemeral engagement with more than an ephemeral engagement with important issues ? Does it has any measurable important issues ? Does it has any measurable impact on development and North/South impact on development and North/South relations ? 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 tend to be less anti-establishment) anti-establishment)

TThe Causeshe Causes(1)(1)

Structure: Structure: GlobalizationGlobalization

Pull FactorsPull Factors

1.1. The United The United Nations (Goodwill Nations (Goodwill ambassadors)ambassadors)

2.2. Non-Non-Governmental Governmental OrganisationsOrganisations

TThe Causeshe Causes(2)(2)

Push FactorsPush Factors

1.1. Power (and the freedom to use it)Power (and the freedom to use it)

2.2. PublicityPublicity

3.3. Real InterestReal Interest

4.4. 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, Pull (UN and NGOs) and push (publicity,

diffusion etc) factors explain the phenomenondiffusion etc) 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 They are far less effective in influencing policies. However, their political leverage is policies. However, their political leverage is increasing spectacularly when they build increasing spectacularly when they build coalitions and act within larger networks.coalitions and act within larger networks.