Ultra-rich Americans reach for political power
Frontpage photo: Shutterstock
Media barons Rupert Murdoch and Michael Bloomberg are among the world’s five richest billionaires with the greatest political power. Researcher Darrell West from one of the world’s oldest think tanks, the Brookings Institution, has analysed his way to this conclusion in his latest book Billionaries - Reflections on the Upper Crust (2014).
U.S. Billionaires Political Power Index
The book is about the one percent who own a third of the assets in the United States and 40 percent of assets around the world. But is that one percent different than you and me?, asks West in his book. Characteristic of this exclusive group of billionaires is that they have unique access to the media, throw large sums of money into campaigns and hold top positions in non-profit organisations and foundations. In the book, West describes the growing political activism of billionaires, a phenomenon he calls “wealthification of politics and society”.
Associate Professor Brooke Harrington from the Department of Business and Politics is proud to welcome West to CBS on 12 May:
- Darrell has been one of the leading authorities in public policy research for decades, and has had a significant influence on both academic and political discourse globally. His new book on inequality, which is the subject of his talk, has received a huge amount of attention, and rightly so. It’s a real honor to have someone of his international stature speak at CBS
Activist billionaires
At the lecture “Wealth, Politics and Democracy” West will discuss billionaire political activism, income inequality and recent US elections, in addition to the implications for democracy and the political process. Drawing from his new book, Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust, he discusses contemporary developments in the United States, Europe and Asia.
The lecture will take place on 12 May 2015 from 15:30 to 17:30 at CBS, Kilevej 14A, 2000 Frederiksberg, room Ks.54.
Register for the lecture
For additional information please contact project manager Julie Munk or Associate Professor Brooke Harrington
About Darrell West
Darrell West is vice president and director of Governance Studies and director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution. He was previously the John Hazen White Professor of Public Policy and Political Science and director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University. His current research focuses especially on technology policy, health care and education.
West has authored more than 20 books, including: Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust (Brookings, 2014), Digital Schools (Brookings, 2012), The Next Wave: Using Digital Technology to Further Social and Political Innovation (Brookings, 2011), Digital Medicine: Health Care in the Internet Era (Brookings, 2009), Digital Government: Technology and Public Sector Performance, (Princeton University Press, 2005), and Air Wars: Television Advertising in Election Campaigns (Congressional Quarterly Press, 2005), just to name a few.
Read more about Darrell West