Critical theory has a long history, but a relatively recent intersection with public relations. This ground-breaking collection engages with commonalities and differences in the traditions, whilst encouraging plural perspectives in the contemporary public relations field.
Compiled by a high-profile and widely respected team of academics and bringing together other key scholars from this field and beyond, this unique international collection marks a major stage in the evolution of critical public relations. It will increasingly influence how critical theory informs public relations and communication.
The collection takes stock of the emergence of critical public relations alongside diverse theoretical traditions, critiques and actions, methodologies and future implications. This makes it an essential reference for public relations researchers, educators and students around a world that is becoming more critical in the face of growing inequality and environmental challenges. The volume is also of interest to scholars in advertising, branding, communication, consumer studies, cultural studies, marketing, media studies, political communication and sociology.
Part I: Origins and Overviews 1. History as a Source of Critique: Historicity and knowledge, societal change, activism and rhetorical movements 2. An Historical Overview of the Emergence of Critical Thinking in PR 3. Articulating Public Relations Practice and Critical/Cultural Theory Through a Cultural-Economic Lens 4. Feminism and PR 5. The Public Sphere and PR 6. Dialogue and Critical Public Relations 7. Critical Rhetoric and Public Relations 8. Sanitising or Reforming PR? Exploring the emergence of critical public relations Part II: Orientations and Re-Orientations 9. Extending PR's Critical Conversations with Advertising and Marketing 10. Public Relations, the Postcolonial Other and the Issue of Asylum Seekers 11. Critical Discourse Analysis: A search for meaning and power 12. Changes to be Encouraged: Radical turns in PR theorisation and small-step evolutions in PR practice 13. A Reflexive Perspective in Public Relations: On leaving traditional thinking and uncovering the taken-for-granted 14. Double Deconstruction: Transparency, dialogue, and social media from a critical post-structuralist perspective 15. "Critical Public Relations is so Critical!" Objections, counter-objections, and practical applications to critical-cultural public relations work 16. What is Critical About Critical Public Relations Theory? Part III: Perspectives from Different Locations 17. A Post-Socialist/Communist Perspective: From foreign-imposed to home-grown transitional public relations 18. Public Relations and Humanitarian Communication: From persuasion to the creation of a community of equals 19. Science, Medicine and the Body: How public relations blurs lines across individual and public health 20. A Postcolonial Critique of Public Relations 21. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Critical public relations as a cure for media studies' fear of the dark 22. The Need for Critical Thinking in Country Promotion: Public diplomacy, nation branding and public relations 23. Critical Race and Public Relations: The case of environmental racism and risk bearer agency 24. Critical Management Studies and the Management of Desire Part IV: Ways Forward 25. Deconstructing Japan's PR: Where is the Public? 26. Socially Integrating PR and Operationalizing an Alternative Approach 27. Expanding Critical Space: Public intellectuals, public relations, and an "outsider" contribution 28. Algorithmic Public Relations: Materiality, technology and power in a post-hegemonic world 29. Liberation Public Relations 30. Being Social: Creating a critical commons with public relations practice 31. Pushing Boundaries: A critical cosmopolitan orientation 32. Public Relations and Sustainable Citizenship: Towards a goal of representing the unrepresented
