Celebrity Influence: Politics, Persuasion, and Issue-Based Advocacy

. Mark Harvey is the graduate program manager, University of Saint Mary

In an era when show business and politics have become increasingly intertwined, Harvey presents a timely analysis of an underappreciated topic."Alan Schroeder, author of Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail“If there is one thing that the election of Donald Trump has taught us, it is that the phenomenon of celebrity politics is very real and very important. Nownes, Professor of Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville . “Celebrity politicians and politicized ce

Why should we listen to celebrities like Bono or Angelina Jolie when they endorse a politician or take a position on an issue? Do we listen to them? Despite their lack of public policy experience, celebrities are certainly everywhere in the media, appealing on behalf of the oppressed, advocating policy change—even, in one spectacular case, leading the birther movement all the way to the White House. In a number of case studies—such as Jolie and Ben Affleck drawing media attention to the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Bob Marley uniting warring factions in Jamaica; John Lennon networking with the new left to oppose Richard Nixon’s re-election; Elvis Presley working with Nixon to counter anti-war activism—he details the role of celebrities working with advocacy groups and lobbying politicians to affect public opinion and influence policy. Further, his reading of surveys tells us that people find politicians no more or less credible than celebrities—except politicians from the opposing party, who are judged less credible. A series of psychological experiments demonstrate that celebrities can persuade people to accept their policy positions, even on nati