The Impact of Social and Cultural Conditioning on Global Public Relations

Public Relations Review, 18(2):103-107 Copyright 0 1992 by JAI Press Inc.

ISSN: 0363.8111 AI1 rights of reproduction in any form reserved.

Melvin L. Sharpe:

Guest Editor

The Impact of Social and

Cultural Conditioning on

Global Public Relations

ABSTRACT: This article presents observations on the way in

which social and cultural conditioning has shaped and is shaping

the evolution of public relations and the performance of public

relations in different societies and cultures around the world.

Based largely on his personal experiences, Dr. Melvin Sharpe

here concludes that public relations can be practiced in a wide

variety of cultures, not only in an American type of democracy.

Dr. Sharpe is a professor and head of the public relations

sequence at Ball State University in Indiana. He served as Guest

Editor of this issue of the Public Relations Review. He is a Fellow

of the Public Relations Society of America.

In the United States, we tend to think that we are the

most advanced social system in knowledge of public relations and in the develop￾ment of public relations as a profession. Ivy Lee’s and Edward L. Bernay’s

pioneering activities are testimony to our nation’s advancements which began in

the first half of this century.

The leap in advancements in the development of public relations in other

countries, however, frequently astounds a United States visitor. In fact advance￾ments that have taken us nearly a century to achieve have been accomplished in a

decade in many countries. Many of the professional accomplishments we are still

working toward in education and in our professional organizations have already

been achieved in less developed countries.

Summer 1992 103