Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-270) and index.

Starting points : defining socio-cultural research in public relations -- Public relations as promotion : the production and circulation of meaning --Public relations, discourse and power -- A political economy of public relations -- Deliberative democracy and public relations -- Public relations and the public sphere -- Public relations and globalisation -- Public relations as an occupational field : the professional project -- Race and class in/and public relations -- Feminist public relations : performativity, black feminism, postfeminism -- Ethics, public relations and society -- Conclusion : public relations beyond the organisation.