The articulation of ‘agency’: How can public relations scholarship and institutional theory enrich each other?

IF 2.7 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Public Relations Inquiry Pub Date : 2020-06-27 DOI:10.1177/2046147X20932136

Jenny Zhengye Hou

引用次数: 7

Abstract

A recent critical turn to both public relations and institutional studies has highlighted ‘agency’ as a shared important theme. While public relations scholars call to bring back ‘agency’ into analysis of practice and process of public relations, neo-institutionalists use ‘agency’ to explain heterogeneity and innovation in institutional outcomes. In this context, this article proposes to use ‘agency’ as a meeting ground to explore how the two disciplines could engage in a dialogue that improves mutual understanding and theoretical enrichment of each other. It argues that institutional thoughts such as ‘embedded agency’, ‘institutional entrepreneurship’ and ‘institutional work’ advance understandings of the downplayed issues of power, diversity and activism in the public relations literature. In turn, the multi-paradigmatic public relations scholarship provides useful tools for analysing institutional agency. Also, this article discusses future research agenda to advance fruitful collaboration between the two domains.

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“代理”的表述:公共关系学术与制度理论如何相互丰富?

最近对公共关系和制度研究的关键转向突出了“代理”作为一个共同的重要主题。当公共关系学者呼吁将“代理”重新引入公共关系实践和过程的分析时，新制度主义者则用“代理”来解释制度结果的异质性和创新性。在此背景下，本文建议以“代理”作为会议场所，探讨这两个学科如何进行对话，以增进相互理解和丰富彼此的理论。它认为，诸如“嵌入式代理”、“制度性企业家精神”和“制度性工作”等制度性思想促进了对公共关系文献中被忽视的权力、多样性和行动主义问题的理解。反过来，多范式公共关系研究为分析制度代理提供了有用的工具。此外，本文还讨论了未来的研究议程，以促进两个领域之间富有成效的合作。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Public Relations Inquiry COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

11.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： Public Relations Inquiry is an international, peer-reviewed journal for conceptual, reflexive and critical discussion on public relations, supporting debates on new ways of thinking about public relations in social, cultural and political contexts, in order to improve understanding of its work and effects beyond the purely organisational realm. We interpret public relations in a broad sense, recognising the influence of public relations practices on the many forms of contemporary strategic, promotional communication initiated by organisations, institutions and individuals. The practice of public relations arises at points of societal and organisational change and transformation, affecting many aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life. Reflecting this, we aim to mobilize research that speaks to a scholars in diverse fields and welcome submissions from any area that speak to the purpose of the journal, including (but not only) public relations, organizational communication, media and journalism studies, cultural studies, anthropology, political communication, sociology, organizational studies, development communication, migration studies, visual communication, management and marketing, digital media and data studies. We actively seek contributions that can extend the range of perspectives used to understand public relations, its role in societal change and continuity, and its impact on cultural and political life. We particularly welcome multi-disciplinary debate about the communication practices that shape major human concerns, including: globalisation, politics, and public relations in international communication migration, refugees, displaced populations terrorism, public diplomacy public and corporate governance diversity and cultural impacts of PR the natural and built environments Communication, space and place The development and practices of major industries such as health, food, sport, tourism, technology.