In the recent years celebrities have become political actors engaging in domestic and international affairs. Ernest Gigilo argues that Hollywood and Washington D.C have created a relationship that is best “expressed in terms of political campaigns and elections, support for issue orientated causes, ally and partner with government during the national crisis.[1] However, on the other hand Cooper argues that any individual can be a diplomat; celebrities are a particular population that can embrace the role of the diplomat. The message projected by these individuals is often undiplomatic and they do not usually have any formal training. Rather than interacting through state embassies celebrity diplomats deliver their messages to the public through the use of old and new media forms and performances through concerts.[2]
Moreover Cooper argues that celebrity diplomacy has become more famous since 21st century for three reasons: firstly because there is a psychological and emotional development link to celebrity culture that lends their credibility, secondly globalisation and the advancement of information technology and finally, since the Post Cold War Era diplomacy itself is more scrutinised subject in international relations. Celebrities have long been involved in varying political and humanitarian issues. Celebrities have been deemed “Diplomats” by the press, government officials, multilateral institutions (e.g. United Nations) or non profit organisations engage in many of the same activities that “official” diplomats perform as part of their professional duties.[3]
In the past few years, celebrities like Bono and Angelina Jolie have been gracing the covers of magazines not for their accomplishments as artists, but for their accomplishments as activists on global issues. This isn't a new phenomenon, of course - before the Live 8 or the MTV specials in Kenya, Audrey Hepburn was traveling to Ethiopia for UNICEF and Princess Diana was calling attention to landmines in Angola. [4]But there seems to be a trend of increasing celebrity participation in world affairs. Because of their status as public figures, celebrities have the ability to draw attention to causes that ordinary citizens can’t easily achieve. Actors, musicians, and professional athletes have a global reach, so combining that with a sense of purpose makes a powerful tool for change.[5]
Those that can be defined as celebrity diplomats tend to “combine assertive individualism of the West with and appreciation of universal cosmopolitan values”. In other word, celebrity diplomats openly adhere to and support Western nation’s values of community, political, social and justice and human rights as universal.[6]The common factor in all that is what Professor Cooper calls "entrapment", by which he means that the celebrities placed their fame at the service of a charity or institution, which then shaped the nature of their activism.[7]
Bibliography:
· Cooper, A.F, “Celebrity diplomacy and the G8: Bono and Bob as legitimate international actors”. - Waterloo: Centre for international governance innovation , 2007.
· Eric, F, “ How insiders view the issues facing Celebrity Diplomacy” USC Center on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School, Norman Lear Center, 2009.
· Alleyne M.D, “The United Nations' Celebrity Diplomacy”, , Sais Review, Vol(25) No(1)2005,175-185.
· Wheeler, R., “ The connected celebrity and non-profit advertising”, 2002, Routledge.
· Public Diplomacy Website-http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/research/project_detail/the_public_diplomacy_role_of_celebrity_diplomats/
· USC Centre on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School- Celebrity Diplomacy – YouTube Video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX_DEs9Ro4k
[1] Public Diplomacy Website-http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/research/project_detail/the_public_diplomacy_role_of_celebrity_diplomats/
[2] Cooper, F, A, “ Celebrity Diplomacy”, USA, Paradigm Publishers, 2008, p. 15.
[3] Eric, F, “ How insiders view the issues facing Celebrity Diplomacy” USC Center on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School, Norman Lear Center, 2009.
[4] USC Centre on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School- Celebrity Diplomacy – YouTube Video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX_DEs9Ro4k
[5] Cooper, A.F, “Celebrity diplomacy and the G8: Bono and Bob as legitimate international actors”. - Waterloo: Centre for international governance innovation , 2007, p 23
[6] Alleyne M.D, “The United Nations' Celebrity Diplomacy”, , Sais Review, Vol(25) No(1)2005,175-185.
[7] Wheeler, R., “ The connected celebrity and non-profit advertising”, 2002, Routledge.
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