Public Relations and Social Theory: Key Figures, Concepts and Developments broadens the theoretical scope of public relations studies by applying the work of a group of prominent social theorists to make sense of the practice. The volume focuses on the work of key social theorists, including Max Weber, Karl Marx, John Dewey, Jürgen Habermas, Niklas Luhmann, Michel Foucault, Ulrich Beck, Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens, Robert Putnam, Erving Goffman, Peter L. Berger, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Bruno Latour, Dorothy Smith, Zygmunt Bauman, Harrison White, John W. Meyer, Luc Boltanski and Chantal Mouffe. Each chapter is devoted to an individual theorist, providing an overview of that theorist’s key concepts and contributions, and exploring how these can be applied to public relations as a practice. Each chapter also includes a box giving a short and concise presentation of the theorist, along with recommendation of key works and secondary literature.

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Ashgate Publishing Limited

Taylor & Francis Ltd

Gower Publishing Ltd

Routledge communication series, Second edition, New York, NY, 2018

Taylor & Francis (Unlimited), New York, NY, 2018

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

Apr 18, 2018

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Source title: Public Relations and Social Theory: Key Figures, Concepts and Developments (Routledge Communication Series)

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Preface
1. Introduction: Public Relations and Social Theory
Themes of the Book
Social Change
Social Forces
Social Interactions
Power
Finally: A Note of Caution
Note
References
PART 1:
Social Changes
2. On Weber: Legitimacy and Legitimation in Public Relations
On Max Weber
Relevance for Public Relations
Conclusion
References
3. On Luhmann: Reframing Public Relations as Part of Society’s Evolutionary Learning Processes
Communication, Observation and Distinction
Society’s Differentiation
Counter-Intuitivity, Complexity and Criticism
Public Relations as Part of Society’s Learning Processes
Five Societal Megatrends Activate Public Relations
Conclusion
References
4. On Bauman: Power, Ethics and Social Hermeneutics
Postmodern Society and the Role of Sociology
Public Relations and Liquid Modernity: Lessons from Bauman
Conclusion
References
Suggested reading includes:
5. On Beck: Public Relations and Quests for Responsibility
Reflexive Modernization
Criticism of Beck
Public Relations to Master the Condition of Modernity and
Reflexive Modernity
Some Concluding Remarks
References
6. On Latour: Actor-Networks, Modes of Existence and Public Relations
On the Sociology of Latour
The Nonmodern Constitution
A Sociology of Associations
Modes of Existence
The Critique of Latour
Relevance for Public Relations
Conclusions
References
PART 2:
Social Forces
7. On Bourdieu: Public Relations, Positions and Resources
On the Sociology of Bourdieu
Relevance for Public Relations
Conclusion
References
8. On Harrison White: Rethinking Relations in Public Relations
On the Sociology of Harrison White
Relevance for Public Relations
Conclusion
References
9. On Meyer: Public Relations in a Context of World Society, Soft Actors and Rationalized De-coupling
The Sociology of John W. Meyer
Relevance for Public Relations: Need for Structural Explanations
Conclusions
References
10. On Giddens: Interpreting Public Relations through Anthony Giddens’s Structuration and Late Modernity Theories
Giddens – An Introduction
Giddens’s Epistemology
The Critique of Social Theory
Public Relations in Late Modernity
Conclusions
References
PART 3:
Social Interactions
11. On Putnam: Bowling Together – Applying Robert Putnam’s Theories of Community and Social Capital to Public Relations
Robert Putnam and the Loneliness of Bowling Today
Critique of Putnam’s Works
Putnam for Public Relations
Establishing Community Through Public Relations
Public Relations or Community Relations?
Creating Social Capital
Putting Social Capital to Use
Problems with Putnam in Public Relations
Conclusion
References
12. On Berger: If Peter Berger Was Doing Public Relations – A Social Constructionist Perspective on Crisis Communication
On Berger’s Thinking
Crisis Communication from a Bergerian Perspective
Conclusion
References
13. On Boltanski: The Sociology of Critique and Public Relations
Economies of Worth and the Spirit of Capitalism
Current Applications of Boltanski in Public Relations and Related Fields
Application to Current Public Relations Activity
Strengths and Limitations
Conclusion
References
Further Reading
14. On Goffman: Researching Relations with Erving Goffman as Pathfinder
Erving Goffman’s Contribution
Key Concepts: Impression Management, Framing, Footing and Face
The relevance of Goffman’s theory for Public Relations
Conclusion
References
15. On Habermas: Communication and Understanding – Key Concepts for Public Relations
Background of Jürgen Habermas
Critical Remarks
Public Relations as a Process of Understanding
Aims of Consensus-Oriented Public Relations
The COPR-Model as a Public Relations Evaluation Program
COPR as an Evaluation Tool for Public Relations
Conclusion
References
PART 4:
Power
16. On Marx: Capitalism and Public Relations
Marx: Philosopher, Journalist and Political Revolutionary
Human Nature, Capitalism, Surplus Value and Alienation
Capitalism and the Invention of Public Relations
Materialism, Base/Superstructure, Commodity Fetishism and Ideology
Marxism after Marx: Neo-Marxism, Critical Theory and Public Relations
Opportunities for Marx in 21st Century Public Relations Research
Public Relations as Wage Labour in the Digital Economy
Concluding Remarks
References
17. On Dewey: Public Relations and its Eclipse of the Public
Dewey – A New Introduction
Dewey and his Critics
Implications for Public Relations – The “Theory of Publics”
Implications for Public Relations – Other Public Theories
Conclusion
References
18. On Foucault: Engaging with Foucault’s Critical Theory and Methods
The Work of Michel Foucault
Research Approaches
Discourse Production and Transformation
Criticisms
Relevance for Public Relations
Conclusion and Implications for Research and Practice
References
19. On Dorothy E. Smith: Public Relations and Feminist Theory at the Crossroads
Smith and Sociological Theory
Smith and Feminist Theory
Smith and Feminist Public Relations Theory
Conclusion
References
20. On Spivak: Theorizing Resistance in Public Relations
Spivak and Postcolonial Theory
Postcolonialism in Public Relations Scholarship
Conclusion
References
21. On Mouffe: Radical Pluralism and Public Relations
On Chantal Mouffe
Relevance for Public Relations
Conclusion
References
22. Conclusions on the Compass, Context, Concepts, Concerns and Empirical Avenues of Public Relations
Compass: Expanding the Knowledge Interests of Public Relations Research
Context: Description of Society
Concepts: Trust, Legitimacy, Understanding, Reflection
Concerns: Power, Behavior and Language
Empirical Avenues: A Research Program for Public Relations
Final Words
References
List of contributors
Index

2022-10-04