Celebrity Diplomacy (International Studies Intensives) (Paperback)

~ Andrew F. Cooper (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A new type of transnational activist has emerged, both co-operating and competing with established diplomatic practitioners. Movie stars, musicians, and CEOs have grabbed new roles on the world stage, simultaneously levering their access to world leaders and mass audiences. The global system is increasingly open to and challenged by their participation in a manner that very few would have anticipated. Blending an appreciation of both complex forms of diplomacy and the exciting but unpredictable dynamics of popular culture, Andrew F. Cooper brings focus to this significant, yet under-analyzed, area of international relations. --Jorge Heine, Ambassador of Chile to India and Vice President of the International Political Science Association

Cooper s analysis gives convincing depth to a phenomenon commonly and unfairly derided as superficial posturing, and confirms the rising power of non-state actors in a globalized world. ...Celebrity Diplomacy poses great questions, features characters who are larger than life, and builds a powerful intellectual case that the insular world of diplomacy has been irredeemably transformed by celebrity culture. --Mark Fried in Literary Review of Canada

Product Description

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. Celebrities bring optimism and buzz to issues that seem deep and gloomy. Even if their lofty goals remain elusive, when celebrities speak, other actors in the global system listen.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Paradigm Publishers; First Edition edition (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594514798
• ISBN-13: 978-1594514791
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #743,485 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, January 6, 2008

By	Neisha Cushing (London, Ontario) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Celebrity Diplomacy is insightful and well written. Anyone interested in the global significance of celebrity diplomacy will enjoy this book. Cooper has provided the reader with an interesting history of celebrities who have both failed and succeeded (at varying levels)in using their status to impact global politics. Bono (of U2) is essentially used as a unique case (or typology) for what responsible, intellectual and thoughtful celebrity looks like. The argument suggests that we can not over look the impact these high profile individuals have on social problems. Their involvement is important and not "fad-ish" and is therefore worthy of academic inquiry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Only book taking this seriously!, November 8, 2007

By	Andrew Schrumm (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first book to really take international celebrity advocacy seriously. Bono, Angelina, Geldof, Gates, Soros, N'Dour and others are drastically changing how diplomacy is done - anyone studying IR needs to understand the influence these individuals wield.

Cooper gives the reader a better idea of who these celebrities are, why they've stepped out of their 'celebrity' shoes, and what impact they're really having.

Great read!

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful lens through which to view the evolving international stage and its modern players. , October 2, 2007

By	J. Munro "James Munro" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Artfully combining an experienced intellectual analysis of new forms of complex diplomacy with an appreciation for the dynamism and fluidity of popular culture, Cooper's Celebrity Diplomacy fills a glaring and growing gap in the study of contemporary international relations. From Gates to Geldof to Shakira, the growing diplomatic potential of celebrities continues to evolve and show its true form. However, the subject has been largely undervalued in previous works, like Alleyne's "The United Nations' Celebrity Diplomacy," which considers the subject only as a crutch and potential veneer for a faltering UN, and is even more commonly discarded. Cooper's work illustrates the distinct shortcomings in either of these positions. Positioning this new form of diplomat in an international milieu where the prominent groups and organizations are plagued by questions of legitimacy and efficiency, Cooper illustrates the strength of such a mobile network of individuals endowed with populist recognition and access to the world's greatest powers. Furthermore, in distinguishing Sir Bob's aggressive sound bite politics from Bono's more reserved diplomacy, etc., he constructs a guidebook for this growing network and its many facets. Ultimately, the work is integral to any serious contemplation of contemporary diplomacy; an insightful lens through which to view the ever-evolving international stage and its modern players.