The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Anthony Giddens and public relations: A third way perspective

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

In the article, the main theories of Anthony Giddens (structuration and late modernity theory) are presented and applied upon public relations. A review shows that there have been few attempts to use these theories in public relations. The analysis states that using Giddens leads to a questioning of the dichotomy between instrumental agency-oriented theories that neglects power structures as well as critical theories that only views public relations as hidden strategic action used by elites to dominate the public sphere. The conclusion is that there are two major arguments for applying Giddens to public relations: (1) the theory of late modernity may enhance our understanding of public relations as an evolving practice in socio-historical and spatial terms; (2) the structuration theory enhances the holistic understanding of how public relations communication, interpreted as a process, may be used both as a reproductive and a transforming social instrument. Giddens theory may in other words be used as a "third way public relations theory". (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Department/s

  • Department of Strategic Communication

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

287-293

Publication/Series

Public Relations Review

Volume

33

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Other Social Sciences

Keywords

  • structuration theory
  • Anthony Giddens
  • social theory
  • public relations
  • late modernity
  • reflexivity

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0363-8111