Global, as well as national and even regional, diplomatic activities are increasingly diversifying both in their forms and in the issues on their agenda. In the same vein, actors involved in diplomatic or diplomatic-like activities are diversifying. These realities have to be taken into consideration by all stakeholders involved in that activity, be they practitioners, from academia, civil society, private sector, etc.
 
Over the recent years, we have witnessed the increasing involvement of celebrities, personalities, stars or "people" from arts, music, cinema, sports, etc. in advocating and campaigning against violations of human rights (actor George Clooney, joined by his fellow actors Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, in his campaign on Darfur massacres), against poverty or for aid to developing world (Bob Geldof and Bono involvement in the organization in 2006 of the Live8 series of concerts to push to G8 leaders’ summit on AIDS and debt relief), or against the use of landmines (Lady Diana). Equally, these celebrities have become partners for international organizations or NGOs acting in the humanitarian or relief field as Goodwill Ambassadors, with the UNICEF, Ambassadors against hunger (actress Drew Barimore, singer Cesaria Evora, soccer player Ronaldinho, etc:), Celebrity Partners (actor Sean Connery, actress Penelope Cruz, etc.) with the World Food Programme (WFP).
 
This book, by Andrew F. Cooper, Associate Director of the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, examines "celebrity diplomacy as a serious global project with important implications, both positive and negative". The author approaches celebrities as persons bringing "optimism and ‘buzz’ to issues that seem deep and gloomy" and who, when they speak, "other actors in the global system  listen".