Op-Ed
Masters in International Relations and Political Science
Time In Contemporary Politics
By
Seif Mesdoua
Seif.Mesdoua@graduateinstitute.ch
Word Count:790
Module Director: Dr. James Hollway
TA: Cesare Figari Barberis
Enter The Celebrity Politics Era: Will Taylor Swift become the next Malcolm X?
Envision the scenario: Amidst a year marked by epoch-making conflicts, destructive
earthquakes, civil strife, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the inauguration of the world's
first libertarian president, Time Magazine has bestowed its Person of the Year title upon…
Taylor Swift. She stands as the inaugural individual celebrity to claim the prestigious
accolade.
Baffled? You shouldn't be. In the 21st century, the A-list celebrity has emerged as an
influential fixture in our lives, for better or for worse. The ascendancy of social media
fanbases and the proliferation of parasocial relationships have coalesced into
unparalleled power and influence for celebrities across the spectrum, from Hollywood
icons to TikTok influencers.
Now, celebrities not only hold more sway, but they are also learning to wield it. Armed
with a distinctive combination of social resources, networks and cultural clout, they can
propel social movements and tilt political inclinations (Engler, 2023). Hollywood has
become a battleground for myriad issues, exemplified by the polarization in the Israel-
Hamas conflict (Rottenberg and Lee, 2023). Yet, with great power comes great
responsibility. Fans on social media frequently remind their favorite celebrities of their
expectation to take a stand on political and societal matters. Selena Gomez, with a
staggering 400 million followers on Instagram, faced accusations of hypocrisy and
cowardice for abstaining from commenting on the ongoing Gaza conflict (Dunn, 2023).
Certainly, celebrities are endeavoring to shape political landscapes, but does it make a
difference? Politicians seem to believe so. As the overseer of one of the most fervent
cultural fanbases, Swift is seen by many as having the potential to sway the outcome of
the 2024 American Presidential elections (Huppke, 2023). In a striking example, Swift's
single Instagram post on National Voter Registration Day persuaded over 35,000 new
voters to register, marking a 25% increase from the previous year (Huppke, 2023).
Bridging the generational gap and bringing youth to the political fray, Swift may be the
secret weapon democrats desperately need in an election potentially decided by young
millennial and Gen Z participation.
Celebrity influence, simply an eminence grise? Think again. Once seated on the
proverbial iron throne, celebrity politicians have proven instrumental in instigating
profound political transformations within institutions and beyond. The phenomenon of the
celebrity politician is far from novel, tracing back to the 20th century, notably exemplified
by former President Ronald Reagan. What captivates in the 21st century, however, is the
ability of these celebrity politicians to infiltrate and reshape politics without adhering to the
conventional norms of the political arena. Think former Minnesota governor Jesse
Ventura, think former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Think former president Donald Trump. His presidency witnessed groundbreaking political
decisions that not only altered the landscape within the United States but also
reverberated globally, marking a pivotal moment in American politics. Trump's actions,
such as challenging international agreements like NAFTA and WTO regulations, brought
about substantial critical junctures and path-dependent frameworks, creating significant
challenges for his successor, Joe Biden, as posited by Mark Pollack (2022).
Is Trump merely an exogenous shock, or, as Pollack contends, a potent change agent
(Mahoney and Thelen, 2009)? Similarly, comedian-turned-war-hero Zelensky has
traversed historical divisions, advocated an expansive vision of Ukrainian nationhood and
implemented decentralizing governance reforms (Pissano, 2022) that hold the potential
to reshape the fabric of Ukrainian politics. In Pakistan, the deposed populist Imran Khan,
once a cricketer, persists in an improbable political battle against the formidable military
and intelligence establishment (Chandran, 2022), challenging preconceived notions in
Pakistani politics.
Celebrities, whether functioning as advocates or politicians, wield substantial epistemic
power, as highlighted by Archer and Cawston (2021). As story-tellers, their proficiency in
emploting narratives, accentuating specific events, and crafting political storylines within
diverse strategies and cultural norms (Czarniawska, 2010:61-69) bestows upon them an
unparalleled capacity to influence beliefs. In modern times, this unique ability positions
them as extraordinary change agents, serving as windows of opportunity through which
they, along with other politicians and entrepreneurs, can exploit avenues for pursuing
transformative change in a variety of ways.
Will Taylor Swift become the next Malcolm X? Unlikely, but the possibility for any A-list
celebrity is undeniably there. In a landscape where the boundary between entertainment
and politics continues to blur, celebrities find themselves poised to step into the forefront
of the next cycle and generation of political leaders and thinkers. Figures like Kanye West,
Cynthia Nixon, J.K Rowling, Angelina Jolie, Lauren Jauregui, Macklemore, and so many
others demonstrate an increasing eagerness among celebrities to assume such roles
within a variety of policy sectors. As their unity, agency and independence from Hollywood
and other industries strengthen, a clear trend emerges: Celebrities are not content merely
telling the story; they aspire to be its authors. They are not satisfied with merely acting
the story;
They’re here to enact it.
By Seif Mesdoua
Time In Politics Correspondent for Popular Culture
Bibliography:
Archer, A. and Cawston, A. (2021) ‘Celebrity politics and Democratic elitism’, Topoi,
41(1), pp. 33–43. doi:10.1007/s11245-021-09763-0.
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Czarniawska, B. (2010) ‘The uses of Narratology in social and policy studies’, Critical
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