Is Philanthropy Good for Society?

In this episode we’re joined by billionaire and philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen and philosopher David Blunt, to consider the merits and pitfalls of charitable giving in a world rife with inequity. 

Whether we think of inequality as simply an outcome of meritocracies that reward talent and ambition, or we’re suspicious of the system itself, there seems to be one thing we can all agree upon: it’s important for those who do disproportionately well to help those in need, beyond just paying their fair share of taxes.

In fact, charity is a fundamental virtue across any religion worth its name. And in the secular morality of liberal democracies, it’s axiomatic to say that we have a duty to those who are less fortunate. And while we might prefer that governments solve all social ills, we recognise the need for not-for-profits to fill gaps left unattended by public programs - a need bolstered by the recognition that private philanthropy may be more nimble, experimental and adaptive, and ultimately more effective than their cumbersome government cousins. 

 But like any virtue, philanthropy has been accused of casting a shadow - one that calls into question the whole endeavour itself. Philanthropy has become a $2.3 trillion USD per annum worldwide industry. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, the largest private philanthropic foundation in the world, provides grants of over $8 billion per annum - nearly double the total foreign aid budget of Australia.Without the accountability that binds programs run by democratically elected governments, the biggest private foundations can have oversized influences on the choice of recipients, the issues and the approaches that are deemed most worthy. And because they often partner with governments, they can have a huge impact not just on how their own giving is distributed, but on the way taxpayer foreign aid is handed out. 

This can leave the super rich, turned super philanthropists, with an ability to exert significant control over the lives of the needy, even stripping them, as some critics argue, of their basic agency and autonomy. There is also the question of the benefits that flow to philanthropists – either directly through related business interests, or in the way their power, influence and connections are enhanced through their philanthropic endeavours. 

Nicolas Berggruen is the Founder and Chairman of the Berggruen Institute and has spearheaded its growth, establishing its presence in Los Angeles, Beijing, and Venice. Focusing on great transformations in the human condition brought on by factors such as climate change, the restructuring of global economics and politics, and advances in science and technology, the Institute seeks to connect and develop ideas in the human sciences to the pursuit of practical improvements in governance across cultures, disciplines, and political boundaries.

Gwilym David Blunt is a writer and commentator on global politics and philosophy. He has his BA (hons) in Political Science and History from the University of Western Ontario for which he was awarded a university gold medal. He has taken his MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History from the University of Cambridge. He was awarded a PhD in Political Science from University College London for his thesis Transnational Justice, Philanthropy, and Domination. From 2015-2022 he was a Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in International Politics at City, University of London.

Your hosts are Lloyd Vogelman and Emile Sherman

This podcast is proud to partner with The Ethics Centre

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This podcast is produced by Jonah Primo and Sabrina Organo, Find Jonah at jonahprimo.com or @JonahPrimo on Instagram

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