World Thinkers 2015: Russell Brand

Comedian, actor and activist. United Kingdom

by Prospect Team / February 16, 2015 / Leave a comment

© D B Young

Brand is the spiritual leader of Britain’s disaffected anti-capitalist youth. In October he published Revolution, a manifesto for the radical redistribution of wealth and power. Dismissed by his opponents as a clownish opportunist, he is nevertheless the most charismatic figure on Britain’s
populist left. Brand’s inclusion on Prospect’s list did not meet with universal approval—the Guardian, for instance, said that his “presence looks designed to be provocative.” But other commentators came to his—and our—defence, with one suggesting that many of the criticisms levelled at Brand simply remind us that the “incessant demand for criticism to be ‘constructive’ is another way of defending the status quo.”

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Comments

daniela
February 20, 2015 at 13:18
Mr Brand is a true awaken, beautiful soul with a brilliant, logical, intricate and extended thinking beyond the conventional realms, he is a true blessing to humanity !
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simone glover
February 28, 2015 at 12:56
A question to Robin McGhee: How does Russell Brand's book further the cause of the establishment he rails against? By shining a search light on all the issues the mainstream media ignores? On reading your biog it seems that RB wants a lot of the same things as you: "Getting ordinary people involved in community politics which are needed to make Britain a modern, functioning democracy where politicians do what people want." In light of this don't you think it would make more sense to support him rather than dismiss him in such an offhand sneery way that's neither big nor clever? I don't imagine any of your constituents in the Royal Borough of Kensington ("London's most desirable area") ever experienced a nightmare scenario like the one experienced by the 93 families on the New Era Estate who faced eviction at Christmas last year. Whether you like him or not, Russell Brand gave those frightened families a voice and more support than any politician ever did. He gave them hope and he took a lot of flack from the right-wing media for his trouble. Would you have been so brave? Would you have carried on when those who were hellbent on keeping you quiet - with the power and means to do so (The Sun) attacked you personally? You're right, he's "No Noam Chomsky", he's Russell Brand, and I for one am glad he's in the world. Whereas, I've no idea what you've done thus far that's worthy of note. Vote for Russel Brand!
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1. dottiedig
  March 27, 2015 at 22:30
  Well said! I doubt you'll receive any response to your questions from these little people, though. Cheers!
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LMFAO
March 26, 2015 at 11:48
Brand a great thinker, really, this idiot could not think himself out of a wet paper bag
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1. dottiedig
  March 27, 2015 at 22:34
  Oh wow that's a good one! Whew! What a slam!! Hilarious, you've outdone yourself with that comment. That should silence everyone on the matter. Clearly the brightest of the bright, such as yourself, are the only ones if actually caught up in a "wet paper bag" would actually try to "think" their way out of it. Us morons would probably just try to take physical action when clearly it is the mind churning away that's going to get a person out of a wet paper bag predicament. Definitely Mr. LMFAO should top this list!
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SFChutzpah
March 26, 2015 at 16:10
British Philosophical Importance: Fiddling, foolish, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minor, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, trivial.
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Cjm
March 29, 2015 at 12:28
People have dedicated their lives to rigorous study, and you award Brand a top thinker award for just regurgitating the works of David Graeber et al. Yes, he has been an extraordinary voice box for the anarcho-populist movement, but come on!
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