Wade, Matthew

Dr Matt Wade is a Lecturer in Sociology and Crime, Justice & Legal Studies at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Matt's primary research interests lie in critically exploring normative practices around proving our ‘moral worthiness’. Who determines the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’? What role should charity, philanthropy, state-based welfare, crowdfunding, mutual aid, and other redistributive and recognition-based mechanisms play in society? How does faith, culture, and other systems of belief shape these judgements? To address these questions, Matt explores: ethical tensions in crowdfunding; governance issues for fundraising platforms; debates around political advocacy by charities and non-profits; and other culturally-shaped spaces of recognition and redistribution.