Globalization, Philanthropy, and Civil Society

According to a new controversial academic book entitled Globalization, Philanthropy, and Civil Society . . . US foundations funding overseas are an element of American 'soft power,' projecting the governments interests overseas and remaking the world in America's image. The book's editors, David C. Hammack of Case Western Reserve University and Steven Heydemann of the United States Institute for Peace, argue in the introduction that foundations project their ideas and operating practices to create a 'Western grant economy,' but access to material, professional and 'reputational' resources are contingent on the extent to which local nonprofits assimilate the norms, practices and procedures of their Western counterparts.December 2009

* The Peacemaker *

[The book does not] treat 'Western' as synonymous with 'American,' as is evident in Sandra Moog's analysis of U.S. and German approaches to protecting the Amazon rain forest. It does, however, offer diverse perspectives on topics ranging from attempts to import South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a model for transitional justice to the advocacy strategies of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in four different countries. Informative and provocative? Yes.Oct. 20, 2009

-- Kyoko Uchida * Foundation Center *

[These] essays reflect a wide range of individual research effort, rather than an attempt to evaluate a single approach. They give close attention to the realities of particular situations while at the same time highlighting the best current thinking about general processes.2010

* Abstracts of Public Administration, Development, and Environment *

[A] timely and important contribution to understanding the role of nonprofits and foundations in globalization. . . . It deserves careful attention by anyone interested in the globalization and civil society.

* Social Service Review *

This book raises key theoretical questions for the field of nonprofit and philanthropic studies and offers insightful case studies that attempt to deal with those questions. It is suitable for graduate-level courses oriented toward educating new scholars. 39(6)

* Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly *

[E]ditors David Hammack and Steven Heydemann have assembled an impressive collection of essays focused on organizational philanthropy in cross-national perspective.

* Contemporary Sociology *

This book aims to demonstrate the value of social scientific studies of philanthropy. It tackles its specific task of studying efforts to spread ideas and practices by means of the donation of money, goods, human action and ideas through the movement of models for the organisation of such activities as medical care, education, advocacy, social improvement and cultural expression. ... [T]he topic is important.Issue 38, Sept. 2009

-- Beth Breeze * Publications Edit