In his latest book, CIGI Distinguished Fellow and Associate Director Dr. Andrew F. Cooper explores the shift from traditional diplomacy by professionally trained civil servants to a new form of advocacy by famous entertainers and entrepreneurs - such as Bono and Bill Gates - with no formal background in global affairs.
Cooper suggests that these new actors have a significant and increasingly important role in the world of diplomacy. "Bono and Bob Geldof have made African debt relief a staple feature of the G8's agenda, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation operates on a much larger budget than the World Health Organization," notes Cooper, "and Mia Farrow has influenced China's policy towards intervention in Sudan." Citing these examples, the author concludes that this new type of activity is changing the way diplomacy is conducted.
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