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Celebrity-led development organisations: the legitimating function of elite engagement

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  • Alexandra Cosima Budabin
  • Louise Mubanda Rasmussen
  • Lisa Ann Richey

Abstract

The past decade has seen a frontier open up in international development engagement with the entrance of new actors such as celebrity-led organisations. We explore how such organisations earn legitimacy with a focus on Madonna’s Raising Malawi and Ben Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative. The study draws from organisational materials, interviews, mainstream news coverage, and the texts of the celebrities themselves to investigate the construction of authenticity, credibility, and accountability. We find these organisations earn legitimacy and flourish rapidly amid supportive elite networks for funding, endorsements, and expertise. We argue that the ways in which celebrity-led organisations establish themselves as legitimate development actors illustrate broader dynamics of the machinery of development.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra Cosima Budabin & Louise Mubanda Rasmussen & Lisa Ann Richey, 2017. "Celebrity-led development organisations: the legitimating function of elite engagement," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(9), pages 1952-1972, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:38:y:2017:i:9:p:1952-1972
    DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2017.1322465
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    Cited by:

    1. Filippo Menga & Michael K. Goodman, 2022. "The High Priests of Global Development: Capitalism, Religion and the Political Economy of Sacrifice in a Celebrity‐led Water Charity," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(4), pages 705-735, July.
    2. Richey, Lisa Ann & Ponte, Stefano, 2021. "Brand Aid and coffee value chain development interventions: Is Starbucks working aid out of business?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).

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