American Philanthropy at Home and Abroad
New Directions in the History of Giving
Rachel Williams editor Ben Offiler editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:8th Sep '22
£90.00
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A study into the role that philanthropy and charity have had in the shaping of American politics and society from the 19th- to the mid-20th-century.
American Philanthropy at Home and Abroad explores the different ways in which charities, voluntary associations, religious organisations, philanthropic foundations and other non-state actors have engaged with traditions of giving. Using examples from the late eighteenth century to the Cold War, the collection addresses a number of major themes in the history of philanthropy in the United States. These examples include the role of religion, the significance of cultural networks, and the interplay between civil diplomacy and international development, as well as individual case studies that challenge the very notion of philanthropy as a social good. Led by Ben Offiler and Rachel Williams, the authors demonstrate the benefits of embracing a broad definition of philanthropy, examining how American concepts including benevolence and charity have been used and interpreted by different groups and individuals in an effort to shape – and at least nominally to improve – people’s lives both within and beyond the United States.
American Philanthropy at Home and Abroad makes an essential contribution to understanding the diversity and complexity of Americans’ giving. Exploring a broad range of efforts to shape public priorities through philanthropy, this volume offers a fascinating examination of Americans’ ideas about community, moral responsibility, politics, inequality, and much more. * Amanda B. Moniz, David M. Rubenstein Curator of Philanthropy, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, USA *
In this expertly compiled collection, Ben Offiler and Rachel Williams have brought together a range of leading scholars to provide a nuanced and thoughtful assessment of American philanthropy in its domestic and international contexts. With chapters focusing on the role of religious groups, cultural networks, and the state in promoting philanthropy, and two chapters examining groups who opposed its key concepts, the collection's contributors demonstrate the latest scholarship in this burgeoning field and raise important questions for anybody interested in the larger history of the United States' relationship with the concept of giving. * Bevan Sewell, Associate Professor in American History, University of Nottingham, UK *
ISBN: 9781350151956
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
248 pages