The political economy of celebrity activism

"This edited collection brings together scholarly works of both a theoretical and empirical nature to critically analyse the forms and functions of the contemporary celebrity activist, and to examine how these intersect with the political economic structures in which celebrity activists operate. Collectively, the volume illuminates some of the inherent tensions between the ethos of solidarity and compassion that the celebrity activist works to generate, on the one hand; and the processes of corporate sponsorship and discourses of individualism upon which the celebrity often depends, on the other. By offering empirical case studies that situate instances of celebrity activism within specific political contexts, the collection highlights how celebrity activism intersects with some of the underlying structures of gender politics and political discourses such as neoliberalism. In addition, the volume discusses how the tensions between, for example, individualism and solidarity can raise important questions about the authenticity of individual celebrity activists, and how individual celebrity activists work, with varying degrees of success, to obfuscate such tensions and obscure the potential contradictions of their work. This book will be of great interest to students and academics within the fields of politics, international development, political communication, social movements, activism studies, and celebrity culture"--

1. Introduction -- 2. Rethinking the Political Economy of Neoliberal Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe -- Chapter 3: The Pre-1989 Origins of Neoliberalism in Hungary -- 4. The Neoliberal Reconfiguration of the Hungarian Political Economy, 1990-2006 -- 5. From Poster Boy to Basket Case: Hungary and the Global Economic Crisis, 2007-10 -- 6. The Consolidation of the Orbán Regime -- 7. Towards 'Authoritarian-Ethnicist Neoliberalism'? -- 8. Conclusions

Intro -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- About the Author -- Abbreviations -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- References -- Chapter 2: Rethinking the Political Economy of Neoliberal Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe -- 'Capitalism Triumphant': The Neoliberal Account of the Transformation -- 'Institutional Fixes' -- 'Against the Current': A Marxist Approach to the Transformation in CEE and the Former USSR -- References -- Chapter 3: The Pre-1989 Origins of Neoliberalism in Hungary -- Introduction -- The State Capitalist Economies and the World Economy, 1945-70 -- Deepening Crisis and the Emergence of Proto-Neoliberal Forces: The Financial Research Institute in Context -- 'Turnabout and Reform': The Construction of Neoliberal Consent in Practice -- The Impact of 'Turnabout and Reform' on Reform Debates in Hungary -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 4: The Neoliberal Reconfiguration of the Hungarian Political Economy, 1990-2006 -- The Panacea of Privatisation -- Opening the Doors to Foreign Capital -- Labour: A Heavy Adjustment -- The Economic and Political Limitations of Hungary's Neoliberal Regime of Accumulation -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 5: From Poster Boy to Basket Case: Hungary and the Global Economic Crisis, 2007-10 -- The CEE Economies and the Economic Boom, 2004-07 -- The CEE Economies and the 'Great Recession', 2008-10 -- Hungary: The Demise of the Neoliberal Consensus? -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 6: The Consolidation of the Orbán Regime: Towards 'Authoritarian-Ethnicist Neoliberalism'? -- Master, How Should We Call You? Theorising the Orbán Regime -- Restoring Law and Order, Economic Competitiveness, and National Pride: Authoritarian-Ethnicist Neoliberalism in Discourse and Practice -- Resisting the Orbán Regime: The Limits of Appeasement -- Concluding Remarks.

This book explores the political economy of Hungary from the mid-1970s to the present. Widely considered a 'poster boy' of neoliberal transformation in post-communist Eastern Europe until the mid-2000s, Hungary has in recent years developed into a model 'illiberal' regime. Constitutional checks-and-balances are non-functioning; the independent media, trade unions, and civil society groups are constantly attacked by the authorities; there is widespread intolerance against minorities and refugees; and the governing FIDESZ party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, controls all public institutions and increasingly large parts of the country's economy. To make sense of the politico-economical roller coaster that Hungary has experienced in the last four decades, Fabry employs a Marxian political economy approach, emphasizing competitive accumulation, class struggle (both between capital and labour, as well as different 'fractions of capital'), and uneven and combined development. The author analyses the neoliberal transformation of the Hungarian political economy and argues that the drift to authoritarianism under the Orbán regime cannot be explained as a case of Hungarian exceptionalism, but rather represents an outcome of the inherent contradictions of the variety of neoliberalism that emerged in Hungary after 1989.

1: "Getting Busy with the Fizzy" -- Johansson, SodaStream and Oxfam: Exploring the Political Economics of Celebrity Activism Nathan Farrell2: Celebrities in Socially Engaged Campaigns: The Making of Solidarity Capital Bruno Campanella3: Funded by Philanthropy, Founded for Activism: Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and their Organisations' Political Endeavours Lukasz Swiatek4: The Value-form of Persona: Celebrity Scandal, Activism, and Commodities Hilary Wheaton and Samita Nandy5: Authentic Activism: Challenges of an Environmental Celebrity Susan Hopkins and Eric Louw6: Promoting Peace and Coffee Pods: George Clooney, Nespresso Activist Joshua Gulam7: 'Bring Back Our Girls': Social Celebrity, Digital Activism and New Femininity Annika Bergman Rosamond and Catia Gregoratti8: Co-Opting the 'Losers': Bob Geldof and Neoliberal Activism after the Financial Crisis Nathan Farrell9: All Under the Same Sky? Celebrity Philanthropy and the Transnational Market for Women's Empowerment Jackie Raphael10: Celebrity Activism and Revolution: The Problem of Truth and the Limits of Performativity Panos Kompatsiaris

This edited collection brings together scholarly works of both a theoretical and empirical nature to critically analyse the forms and functions of the contemporary celebrity activist and to examine how these intersect with the political economic structures in which celebrity activists operate. Collectively, the volume illuminates some of the inherent tensions between the ethos of solidarity and compassion that the celebrity activist works to generate on the one hand and the processes of corporate sponsorship and discourses of individualism upon which the celebrity often depends, on the other. By offering empirical case studies that situate instances of celebrity activism within specific political contexts, the collection highlights how celebrity activism intersects with some of the underlying structures of gender politics and political discourses such as neoliberalism. In addition, the volume discusses how the tensions between, for example, individualism and solidarity can raise important questions about the authenticity of individual celebrity activists and how individual celebrity activists work, with varying degrees of success, to obfuscate such tensions and obscure the potential contradictions of their work. This book will be of great interest to students and academics within the fields of politics, international development, political communication, social movements, activism studies, and celebrity culture.