Blog Archives

Do Style And Substance Mix In Official Diplomacy? The Case Of Pakistan

Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister. (Pravasi Image)

First published on 19.08.2011. Hina Rabbani Khar recently made a stylistic splash on the diplomatic stage– using her uniqueness (a young logo adorned female markedly different from the old boys club of the standard image of diplomacy). One interpretation is

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Staying On The Sidelines During Traumatic Events Is Difficult For Athletes

First published on 28.07.2011. Top-tier athletes from traditionally powerful countries such as the US and the UK appear to have a wide range of choice in terms of public life. Besides those who have become robustly engaged in celebrity activism

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Should We Have Sympathy For David Beckham (and Other Celebrities) Over The News Of The World Scandal?

(Image: Richard Saker)

First published on 25.07.2011. A wide variety of individuals had their phone hacked in The News of the World scandal. Indeed it was the escalation of these illegal techniques of investigative journalism to ordinary people (although of course ordinary people

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Acclaim Or Negation For George Clooney’s Role In South Sudan’s Independence

First published on 18.07.2011. Who deserves credit for bringing The Republic of South Sudan into existence as the 193rd country in the UN? One strong candidate for acclaim is the phenomenon of celebrity activism led by Hollywood’s paramount leading man

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Between Institutional Duties And Mega-celebrity: Re-branding The Next Generation Of Royals

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to Canada. (Reuters)

First published on 11.07.2011. The first international visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge aka William and Kate has major implications for the future of the British House of Windsor in all of its institutional reach. But the tour

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Celebrity Scandals

First published on 17.07.2011. All of us – including your faithful blogger – love a good celebrity scandal. Who can not feel some basic instinct of satisfaction or schadenfreude when a star crashes? Think Tiger Woods as prime example! Or

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Has Bono Gone Missing From Summit Diplomacy?

Bono with Carla Bruni Sarkozy. (Carla Bruni Foundation)

First published on 02.06.2011. Among the intricacies of the recent G8 summit held in Deauville, France last week (May 26-27) one gap in participation has received no attention. This is the absence of Bono! I have attended a few G8s

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Small Countries

More Scandals

Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrested for an alleged rape case in New York. (Reauters)

First published on 26.05.2011. The last few weeks have seen multiple falls from grace among prominent men. Indeed there is a serious competition for who has fallen the fastest! Under normal circumstances ex-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would grab the prize.

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

The British Royals As Celebrities

First published on 15.05.2011. Two major events confirm the star power of the British royal family. The first was the glamorous wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton (with major support from Prince Harry and Pippa), an event that is

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Charlie Sheen As ‘Bad Boy’

Charlie Sheen during an interview with the ABC News where he said that he wanted to visit Haiti. (Image: Reauters)

First published on 23.04.2011. It is hard to ignore Charlie Sheen and his ‘bad boy’ tour even if his basic image is far removed from celebrity activism. One theme that jumps out is the contrast in types of engagement even

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

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