New Philanthropy and Social Justice
Debating the Conceptual and Policy Discourse.
A rigorous and searching examination of what drives the new wave of corporate and billionaire philanthropy, and whether it can ever truly address inequality or merely paper over its structural causes.
Over the past twenty years, wealthy individuals and private corporations have become increasingly involved in philanthropy, often by establishing foundations targeted at reducing social problems associated with poverty, disease and food insecurity. This important book questions the political and ideological reasons behind rich individuals and large companies choosing to engage in poverty reduction through philanthropy.
The question of concern is not whether new philanthropy is good or bad, but what motivates this form of giving and whether the sources of new philanthropy funding are legitimate. The book argues that this new philanthropy risks being a sticking plaster without long-term results, because it fails to tackle social injustice or the structural reasons for inequality.
Drawing contributions from scholars across politics, sociology, economics and development studies, the book covers new philanthropy and social transformation, philanthrocapitalism and the process of commodification, and philanthropy and social protection. It includes a chapter examining the distribution of charitable organisations and resources in England.
For fundraisers and charity leaders seeking a deeper understanding of the power dynamics and politics surrounding major philanthropy, and the questions that large donors and their advisers may themselves be grappling with, this is a valuable and challenging read.
About Behrooz Morvaridi
Behrooz Morvaridi is a senior lecturer in development studies at the Bradford Centre for International Development, University of Bradford. His interdisciplinary research spans political economy, poverty and inequality, rural development, food security and social protection. He is the author of Social Justice and Development (Macmillan, 2008).
Reviews
“Accessible, well-informed critical research in a field that is attracting growing interest.”
Andrew Sayer, University of Lancaster
You can buy the book from Amazon.co.uk.
