Philanthrocapitalism and the Erosion of Democracy

Philanthrocapitalism and the Erosion of Democracy gathers evidence that details the dangers of corporate and individual billionaire philanthropic "developments" in agricultural technology, food, knowledge, and global health systems. Such philanthropy allows a select elite few to manipulate information and policy for their own profit, thus undermining democracies and communities globally. Over the last 30 years philanthrocapitalism has emerged as a major force able to derail the international agenda and push our future, and the future of our planet, towards extinction and ecological collapse. Throughout this book, we see how the patterns of technocratic solutionism, powered by an unholy alliance between big-capital, science and technology, institutions and states, are embodied by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and put into accelerated action through philanthropic development. Through its various initiatives, sub-organizations, development schemes, and funding mechanisms, the Gates weave an intricate web of wide-ranging power and influence, obscured through all its separate strands. Philanthrocapitalism and the Erosion of Democracy addresses a large part of this web of power which deliberately ignores the past and persistent failures of the very technologies they push and disregards any potential problems their initiatives yield. This power is one focused primarily on profit and market expansion. This democratic emergency is analyzed in detail throughout this book by leading experts and civil society movements' leaders, such as: Dr. Vandana Shiva, Farida Akhter, José Esquinas Alcàzar, Nicoletta Dentico, Fernando Cabaleiro, Seth Itzkan, Dru Jay, Satish Kumar, Jonathan Latham, Aidé Jiménez-Martínez, Chito Medina, Zahra Moloo, Silvia Ribeiro, Adelita San Vicente, Ali Tapsoba, Jim Thomas, Timothy A. Wise.