Blog Archives

Internet Gambling And Caribbean Celebrity

(Shutterstock/whitewizzard)

First published on 16.04.2011. I have a new book out on Internet Gambling Offshore: Caribbean Struggles over Casino Capitalism world of celebrities (Palgrave Macmillan IPE series). The core theme of the book is how Antigua, a state of 70,000 people,

Posted in Small Countries

Public Intellectuals And Intervention In Libya

Bernard Henry Lévy in Benghazi with a representative of the Youth Defense Committee of the City. (photo credit: Marc Roussel)

First published on 06.04.2011. There is lot to catch up in the world of celebrity activism since late February. However one episode in the midst of the Libya crisis rises to the top of my list, a different type of

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Going Home Politically Is Hard To Do For Celebrities

First published on 12.02.2011. The events in Egypt continue to inform a wide number of themes. The issue I focused on last week (the hold of celebrities by the state) deserves some follow up, as the role of Mrs. Mubarak

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Breaking The Grip On Celebrities By The Egyptian State

Khalid Abdallah in Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring. (Democracy Now)

First published on 06.02.2011. The main focus on the events in Egypt has been on the mass of demonstrators taking to the streets and squares to protest against the Mubarak regime. Yet as in other areas I have looked at

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Bono vs. The Rolling Stones

Bono at the World Economic Forum. (Getty Images)

First published on 30.01.2011. The image of Bono taking centre stage once again at Davos on a panel about ‘Raising Healthy Children’ could easily open up another grueling debate about the merits of the U2 lead singer as a global

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy, Small Countries

The Lure Of Placing Bollywood On The Front Lines Of Celebrity Diplomacy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accepting donation from the Bollywood stars and directors. (PTI)

First published on 22.01.2011. The global reach of Bollywood is increasing apparent. As just one illustration, Toronto has been full of buzz this week due to the visit of Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor and the announcement that the city

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

George Clooney – The Out In Front Networked Celebrity

First published on 08.01.2011. Celebrity activists are commonly criticized for being enthusiastic amateurs. Indeed in some cases personalities from the entertainment world do embrace issues that they know very little about. There is a tendency among these individuals to use

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Yao Ming A Sign Of Future Possibilities?

Yao Ming during his charity gala. (www.yaomingmania.com)

First published on 17.01.2011. This blog introduces two very different themes about celebrity activism. The first theme concerns the role (or arguably the non-role) of sports celebrities as pivotal activists. Although some sports celebrities do involve themselves in causes there

Posted in Brics, Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Who Advises The Celebrity Activists?

Jeffrey Sachs, an economist and professor at Columbia University, with Angelina Jolie and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. (Business Journals)

First published on 01.01.2011. One of the most under-recognized areas of celebrity activism relates to who advises this category of performers in what roles or issues they should take up. The traditional answer focuses on institutions. When we look back

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Small States Are Trying To Shake Up The Global System

Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed arrives for an underwater meeting of the Maldives' Cabinet (AP Photo/Mohammed Seeneen).

First published on 15.12.2010. The financial crisis accentuated the impression that big countries have enormous privileges in international relations. Not only have the bigs held onto their traditional status through the retention of features such as the Permanent 5 in

Posted in Small Countries

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