Against Charity

by Daniel Raventós Panella, Julie Wark

Charity is not a gift. Gift-giving implies reciprocity, an ongoing relationship. When requital is impossible, the act of giving remains outside mutual ties and charity becomes yet another manifestation of class structure, a sterile one-way act upholding the status quo. Vacuuming up all the profits thanks to a weak labor movement, lower taxes, and tax havens (thanks, lobbyists and loathsome politicians!), the global elite then turn around and remake the world in their own image with charitable donations that speak more of mean-spiritedness than generosity. Postmodern versions of nineteenth-century charity aim to keep wealth and power in a few hands, mocking our desire for greater income equality. Daniel Raventós and Julie Wark argue for an unconditional universal basic income above the poverty line and paid for by progressive taxation to both eradicate poverty and empower recipients—the result being the human right of material existence. The burning issue is not charity but justice. Daniel Raventós is the author of Basic The Material Conditions of Freedom . He is on the editorial board of the international political review Sin Permiso . Julie Wark , the author of The Human Rights Manifesto , is on the editorial board of Sin Permiso , and lives in Barcelona.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Sociology, Economics, Philosophy

150 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2018

Reviews

[Taufiqur rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas. Main takeaway charity is good but it’s a good idea to bite the hand that feeds you if it is the hand that is keeping you to feed yourself.

[Shannon Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pivot to UBI strategy was kind of abrupt and felt like it came out of nowhere kind of but very strong, well researched marxist theory with actual quantitative data (rare lol) nonetheless

[Pablo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Against Charity is an incredibly insightful book that provides a very comprehensive critique of charity culture in the “First World.” It begins by analyzing the relationship and power dynamics that charity engenders, and dismantles the myth of a “pure gift.” By first tracing the history of how other cultures first understood gifts and the practice of gift-giving, the authors juxtapose our current situation (celebrities, philanthropist, billionaires, *I would also add mindful consumerism*) to convincingly show how charity has transformed in the “Modern World” into a egoistic and vapid endeavor of neoliberalism and “philanthrocapitalism.”

When I first skimmed through the table of contents, I was excited to see that part 2 launches into arguments for Universal Basic Income and “Financing Justice.” Unfortunately, although Part 2 is entitled “Partial Solutions”, not even the semblance of a solution was proposed. Initially I was a little disappointed by this, but after more thought, I can’t really count that against the authors. I take that as an invitation to continue the conversation and wrestle with the particularities of our individual contexts. Often, general solutions simply become platitudes anyway. They have done the incredible work of fleshing out this timely critique, now it is our turn to apply it.

I will admit that I lost a chunk of hope in humanity after reading this. My take away is this: if Fanon was right in saying that the revolution cannot come from the first world — that it had to begin in the the third world — then, I think these authors showed that the movement toward UBI and economic justice can only come from the first world. This thought is incredibly depressing, and yet, painfully inspiring.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic premise; Charity is a Business that is fostered and facilitated by the capitalist system . A more equitable system would not require Philanthropists and Charity.
"PhilanthroCapitalists. " acquire more wealth by investing in short term fixes that return the biggest bang for their bucks! In the process they also acquire celebrity status.
A Celebrity Gala raises money by charging exorbitant entrance fees for access to congratulate other celebrities for public consumption and adulation. Contributing to celebrity causes makes folks believe are part of a movement and identify with the celebrity.
The authors poked fun at the coincidence that the two female celebrities who travel to Earth's most inhospitable places to adopt babies, are named "Madonna" & "Angel-ica" .
They also summarize the machinations of the Clinton, Gates, and Trump Family Foundations.
The last part deals with different strategies and definitions of "Basic Income"

[Sue Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be fair, I only skimmed this, but Ms. Wark has some interesting ideas. I hope politicians will read this book and at least consider it.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant and mind-shattering perspective. Raventós cuts through all the BS we've been indoctrinated with and exposes just how screwed up our current practices of charity are.

[maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautiful prose for political theory. Very correct charity is business not a gift through and through