Review of 'The reproach of hunger : food, justice, and money in the twenty-first century' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
David Rieff exposes the challenges and the contradictions of modern philanthropy and addresses some big questions.
There is now a new generation of wealthy technocrat philanthropists who offer a big part of their wealth to solve a few of the world’s problems. Philanthrocapitalism or venture philanthropy, as it is known, because of its alignment with core business interests, has become a formidable and innovative force for social good. But it also raises some difficult questions, argues David Reiff. He emphasises that he does not doubt philanthrocapitalists’ sincerity to do good, but he is also criticising their un-democratic operations. David Rieff doesn’t claim to have all the answers. He argues that the solution to hunger is political but he falls into the trap of moralism to justify his position. This is a convincing way to reason if you can get your readers to accept your moral rules. But people do not …
David Rieff exposes the challenges and the contradictions of modern philanthropy and addresses some big questions.
There is now a new generation of wealthy technocrat philanthropists who offer a big part of their wealth to solve a few of the world’s problems. Philanthrocapitalism or venture philanthropy, as it is known, because of its alignment with core business interests, has become a formidable and innovative force for social good. But it also raises some difficult questions, argues David Reiff. He emphasises that he does not doubt philanthrocapitalists’ sincerity to do good, but he is also criticising their un-democratic operations. David Rieff doesn’t claim to have all the answers. He argues that the solution to hunger is political but he falls into the trap of moralism to justify his position. This is a convincing way to reason if you can get your readers to accept your moral rules. But people do not generally agree on the same moral rules.
This is a thorough and well-researched book, rife with references on poverty, inequality, international development, and the “charitable industry”, but it lacks perspective and it misses clarity.