Celebrity diplomacy: much needed UN facelift or effective tool of human rights advocacy? : best practices of the UN goodwill ambassadors and messengers of peace with special focus on eliminating violence against women

Abstract

Globalization, advancement of information technology, media entertainment spectacle, empowerment of civil society and expectations of the global publics have been essential factors in grounding the acknowledgement of the Celebrity Diplomats as an inherent fact of the International Relations. Neoliberal globalization has created a need for private individuals such as celebrities, multilateral institutions, and civil societies to provide services that are not longer being provided by governments. In this respect, the United Nations created programmes of the Goodwill Ambassadors and Messengers of Peace requesting the Celebrity Diplomats to lend their star power to various causes and to gain the attention of public and international leaders. But are the United Nations Celebrity Diplomats truly effective in helping the United Nations to achieve its objectives or they are rather co-opting struggles from across the world and making themselves the stars instead? In order to tackle the raised dilemma, the master thesis examines main critiques, risks, and benefits together with the legal framework of the United Nations Ambassadors Programmes. Moreover, the research examines and identifies the best practices a performance of the selected United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors and Messenger of Peace with a special focus on eliminating Violence against Women.