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RAPPER and sometime Trump supporter Kanye West has an- nounced that he will be run- ning for president of the United States. Without the tens of thou- sands of signatures needed to get on the ballot in all states or the backing of a small party, West's chances of winning are almost zero. Although West won't be enter- ing the White House any time soon, plenty of other celebrities have made a successful career in politics. A mix of charisma, media-savvy and anti-establish- ment airs can help them appeal to voters. We should be alert to what makes these people popu- lar with voters because it rarely plays out well when they actual- ly find themselves in office In addition to Trump, the US has seen a swathe of celebrities turned politicians. The sing- er Sonny Bono, of Sonny and Cher fame, became the mayor of Palm Springs, California in 1988 and then was elected to Congress in 1994. Professional wrestler Jesse "the Body" Ven- tura was elected governor of Minnesota in 1999 and held the position until 2003. Then there was California governor and lat- er US president Ronald Reagan, who rose to fame as a Holly- wood actor. This phenomenon is not lim- ited to the US. The prime min- ister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, was a cricketer. The president of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, was a comedian. The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelen- sky, was an actor who played the president in the Ukrainian television show Servant of the People. All over the world, ce- lebrities have become involved in politics, with some occupying the highest offices. The celebrity advantage Celebrity and politics may seem to be a natural fit. Celeb- rities are often charismatic and well versed in engaging with the media. They already have more experience in working on camera and cultivating an im- age. Today, they also may have more understanding of how to use social media. Unlike outsiders that come out of nowhere, celebrities also benefit from name recognition and their campaigns are more likely to garner media atten- tion. For example, the media's fascination with Trump's an- tics earned him nearly $5 bil- lion (£4 billion) worth of free airtime during the 2016 cam- paign. The rise of celebrity politi- cians has, in part, to do with changes in politics from tradi- tional political skills to media management and fundraising. While the qualities of a celeb- rity are often poorly suited to the duties of governing, they can attract the necessary atten- tion from the media without any prior political accomplish- ment. Additionally, increasingly blurred lines between enter- tainment and news (or info- tainment) have lowered bar- riers for celebrities to enter politics. With the news focused on entertaining viewers more than informing them, profiling a celebrity candidate is a per- fect story to run with. But it is not just the role of the media and changes in politics that are important here. Voters are also drawn to celebrities because they are anti-estab- lishment. A break from traditional politics Though celebrities are not necessarily populist, there are aspects of their appeal that are similar. Celebrities are well known, charismatic. Many who end up running for office lack a deep knowledge of politics and governing and have no experi- ence governing. They may be able to use a simplistic communication style and direct language that ap- peals to the common man and gives the impression that they are relatable. They also tend to not have the same academ- ic backgrounds – for instance, degrees or associations with prestigious institutions – that many politicians have. Like populists, some celeb- rities promote their lack of knowledge and expertise. For example, the former wrestler Jesse Ventura attacked peo- ple with college degrees and bragged about being the on- ly candidate for Governor of Minnesota that did not have a law degree. Counterintuitively, this an- ti-intellectualism is something that appeals to some voters who do not want to support a candidate that appears to be smarter than they are. These characteristics are seen as an advantage, representing a break from traditional politics. Once in power, celebrities do not have a strong record of gov- erning. Those that manage to be successful in political roles are the exception, not the rule. Their lack of experience and knowledge of laws and govern- ing often make their political turns disastrous. At best, they continue with the status quo of dysfunctional politics. One-time actor and former President of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada was impeached for corruption. The President of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, has been ac- cused of sexual abuse, though charges were later dropped, and blocking an investigation by the International Commis- sion Against Impunity (CICIG) in Guatemala into his party and his relatives. The presidency of former singer Michel Martelly (known as "Sweet Micky") of Haiti was dogged by delayed elections, accusations of corruption, po- litical violence and rising pov- erty. Most importantly the rise of celebrity politicians is not a sign of the democratic field becoming more interesting or open. The rise of such candi- dates is a sign of political de- cline of democracies and wider frustration with professional politicians who voters feel dis- illusioned and distant from. 13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JULY 2020 OPINION Natasha Lindstaedt Natasha Lindstaedt is a Professor within the Department of Government at the University of Essex theconversation.com Kanye for president: the dangerous allure of the celebrity politician West previously supported Trump and visited him at the White House