Routledge Public Relations in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: An Arab Perspective (Routledge New Directions in PR & Communication Research)

The Arab world has engaged in public relations for thousands of years, and the public relations literature provides multiple examples extending from ancient times. However, modern public relations is much more vaguely defined. This is partly because the research surrounding public relations practice in the Middle East remains sparse, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This book presents a clear picture of contemporary PR practice in this region, providing a background on the evolution of public relations in each GCC country. It shows how environmental factors (historical, cultural, socio-political, and economic) influence practice in the region. It also contributes to public relations scholarship, education, and practice worldwide by providing new perspectives to those unfamiliar with its practice in this region. This book will benefit scholars and practitioners alike through its informed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of practice in the GCC countries, as well as being of great benefit to the development of professional practice in the region. Review "For almost two decades, I have stressed the need to reduce ethnocentricity in public relations scholarship by bringing voices and experiences from other parts of the world into public relations research and pedagogy. This compilation of essays helps fulfil that need by bringing perspectives from the Middle-East, a region that has not been adequately represented in public relations scholarship.", Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Professor and Director of Professional Masters in Corporate Communication, University of Colorado, USA "This volume clearly shows that PR in the GCCC is more than C&D (coffee and dates). It is the first comprehensive examination by predominantly Arabic scholars of public relations in the six Gulf nations and promises to be the starting point for anyone interested in the region. Their work explores unique cultural, social and historical characteristics―and we find PR evolving rapidly, thriving in distinctive socio-cultural environments and maturing in a way that may surprise those unfamiliar with the region.", Kenneth Starck, former dean of the College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates,and former director of the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication, USA. Retired. About the Author Talal M. Almutairi is Assistant Professor at Saad Alabdulla Security Academy, Kuwait. Dean Kruckeberg is a professor in the department of communication studies at UNC Charlotte. He is former co-chair of the Commission on Public Relations Education and is a past member of PRSA's national board.