PBPL 81.10 From Jeff Bezos to LeBron James: The Politics of Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a political activity. It is shaped by public policies such as tax incentives, it reflects and reinforces norms of wealth accumulation and inequality, it supports social movements, and it funds the infrastructure of public life. This course will cover philanthropy’s evolving relationship to democracy, its role in legitimizing capitalism and the privatization of the common good, and possibilities for reconciling the demands of justice with the ideal of pluralism in charitable giving.

This course will provide an in-depth understanding of the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, including its historical development, normative and structural elements, and modern role as a driver of social change, with a focus on sustainable development. By the end of the course, students will have knowledge of the history and structure of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, the tradition of competing value commitments in civil society, and key issues in the current nonprofit and philanthropic sector. Readings for this class will span across political philosophy, civil society studies, public policy, law reviews, and popular journalism.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:TMV; WCult:W

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

The Nelson A Rockefeller Center for Public Policy