Can celebrities act as "disrupters," promoting strategic partnerships to bring new ideas and funding to revitalize the development field—or are they just charismatic ambassadors for big business?
In 2010, Ben Affleck, known for his performance as Batman, launched the Eastern Congo Initiative, designed to bring a new approach to the region's development. This event is central to Batman Saves the Congo. Affleck's organization received special access, diversified funding, and significant support from elites in the political, philanthropic, development, and humanitarian spheres. This fact sets it apart from other development programs. Affleck used his influence to build partnerships with others both in and outside of the development field, occupying a bipartisan political realm that is neither charity nor aid but "good business." Highly visible celebrity humanitarians like Affleck operate in the public domain but do not engage meaningfully with the public, argue Alexandra Cosima Budabin and Lisa Ann Richey. Rather, they are an unruly group of new players in development whose involvement furthers the interests of big business.
As elite political participants, celebrities shape development practices through strategic partnerships that represent both an innovative way to raise awareness and funding for neglected causes and a troubling trend of unaccountable elite leadership in North–South relations. Batman Saves the Congo sheds light on celebrity-led business solutions and the development contexts they create.
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