Global, as well as national and regional, diplomatic activities are increasingly diversifying both in their forms and in the issues on their agenda. In the same vein, actors involved in diplomatic or diplomatic-like activities are diversifying. These realities have to be taken into consideration by all stakeholders involved in that activity, be they practitioners, policy makers, from academia, civil society, private sector, etc.
Over the recent years, world politics and diplomacy have witnessed the increasing involvement of celebrities, personalities, movie, sports, arts stars or "people", etc. in advocating and campaigning against violations of human rights (actor George Clooney, joined by his fellow actors Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, in his campaign on Darfur massacres), against poverty or for increasing aid assistance to the developing world (Bob Geldof and Bonoinvolvement in the organization in 2006 of the Live8 series of concerts to push to G8 leaders’ summit on AIDS and debt relief), or against the use of landmines (Lady Diana in the past). Equally, these celebrities have become partners for international organizations or NGOs acting in the humanitarian or relief field as goodwill ambassadors, with the UNICEF, Ambassadors against hunger (i.e. actress Drew Barrymore, singer Cesaria Evora, soccer player Ronaldinho, etc:), celebrity partners (i.e. actor Sean Connery, actress Penelope Cruz, etc.) with the World Food Programme (WFP).
The book, Celebrity Diplomacy, by Andrew F. Cooper, Associate Director of the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, examines "celebrity diplomacy as a serious global project with important implications, both positive and negative". The author approaches celebrities as persons bringing "optimism and ‘buzz’ to issues that seem deep and gloomy" and who, when they speak, "other actors in the global system listen".
Abstract
Time magazine named Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates their "Persons of the Year". The United Nations tapped Angelina Jolie as a goodwill ambassador. Bob Geldof organized the Live8 concert to push the G8 leaders’ summit on AIDS and debt relief. What has come to be called “celebrity diplomacy” attracts wide media attention, significant money, and top official access around the world. But is this phenomenon just the latest fad? Are celebrities dabbling in an arena that is out of their depth, or are they bringing justified notice to important problems that might otherwise languish on the crowded international diplomatic scene? This book is the first to examine celebrity diplomacy as a serious global project with important implications, both positive and negative. Intended for readers who might not normally read about celebrities, it will also attract audiences often turned off by international affairs.
Andrew F. COOPER, Celebrity Diplomacy, Paradigm Publishers, 2007 (160 pp.)
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