New Philanthropy and Social Justice ─ Debating the Conceptual and Policy Discourse

A new form of philanthropy has emerged on the back of neoliberal economic globalisation which has encouraged wealth concentration in the hands of a few ?super-rich’ individuals and families emanating from both the global south and the global north. Over the last two decades individual capitalists and private corporations have become increasingly involved in philanthropy often through the establishment of foundations targeted at helping to reduce social problems, such as poverty, disease, and food security. While philanthropic activities may be considered worthy in themselves, this important book questions the political and ideological reasons why rich individuals and large companies are engaged in poverty reduction through philanthropy. New philanthropy risks being a ?sticking plaster’ without long-term results, because it fails to tackle social injustice or structural reasons for inequality. The book will be of value to academics, upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates in politics, sociology, economics and development studies.

Behrooz Morvaridi is a senior lecturer in development studies at the Bradford Centre for International Development, University of Bradford, UK. He is the author ofSocial Justice and Development.