David Keen

Social anthropologist Professor David Keen looks at the shame spiral that pervades everything from politics to social media and asks whether it works and, if so, for whom.

Keen looks at how shame is instrumentalised and weaponised. He says many of those offering a way out of shame are the ones piling on the shame in the first place. Manipulation of shame is central to consumerism, violent crime, populist politics, and even war and genocide. Keen says we need to recognise that shame is being made to serve political and economic purposes so we can break out of it. He says while victims of poverty and violence are frequently shamed, those who benefit trend to exhibit shamelessness and even pride.

Keen is professor of conflict studies at the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His previous books include The Benefits of Famine and When Disasters Come Home.