Institut Ramon LLull

Over the past twenty-five years, the number of financial billionaires has increased exponentially in line with worldwide poverty and precarity indexes. The correlation between these two phenomena opens up a space for critical reflection, but also business opportunities for the economic elites. Why are we seeing such a spectacular proliferation of non-profit foundations across the globe? Why are companies dedicating so many resources to charitable organizations which they themselves have founded? Perhaps humanity has accepted the task of working towards fairness and solidarity? The truth, unfortunately, speaks of a capitalism which has discovered that poverty is a highly lucrative prospect, and that philanthropy can be a source of income for global financial markets.

The cynical strategy of transforming charity into business is what we call philanthrocapitalism. This book dismounts the narrative woven by these philanthrocapitalists while exploring their rather complex web of donors, corporations, foundations, and governments who amplify profit margins as well as their share of power.