Philanthrocapitalists in global social policy: ideational power and policy priorities

While historical continuities remain, the twenty-first century global policy eco-system presents a transformed context for the operation of philanthropic power. Individual billionaire philanthropists as paraprivate political actors are increasingly influential but under-studied voices in the public Global Social Policy conversation, and their ideas increasingly matter for the future social contract. Drawing on discursive institutionalism to analyse the communicative discourse of six major philanthrocapitalists, this article uses quantitative content analysis methods to examine how these actors represent, advance and legitimise their interests in prescribing ideas of social ‘problems’ and prioritising their social policy preferences. Complementary to studies of philanthrocapitalists’ organisations and activities, the analysis of their communications situates their policy priorities within the contemporary international struggle over social development objectives and social governance. The study reveals patterns of philanthrocapitalist ideational myth-making around the sources of problems and their solutions, that conflicts with core principles of social policy and goals for global welfare. Seeking legitimation of the existing socio-political and economic order, their communications prioritise the expansion of tools for ‘market participation’ and underplay their own power vis-a-vis the state and its citizens, while simultaneously reinforcing their self-projected ideational abilities and material interests.