Engineering

Philosophy

Communication

Strategic communication

Social psychology

Economic Justice

Dialogic

Public relations

Conversation

Civil engineering

Acoustics

Mainstream

Physics

Identity (music)

Psychology

Political science

Epistemology

Sociology

Externalism

Underpinning

Persuasion

Internalism and externalism

Public Relations Review

This paper follows a critical approach in exploring the philosophical underpinnings and key features of dialogue in public relations practice and thinking. It argues that dialogue has been uncritically equated to two-way symmetrical communication, which has not done justice to the nature of dialogue, and has effectively stifled concrete development of a dialogic theory in public relations. The paper draws from a range of literature, including mainstream public relations and communication philosophy—in particular the philosophy of Martin Buber. The purpose of this paper is to inform public relations thinking by encouraging debate rather than proposing a new theoretical approach. As such, it sets out to explore the concept of dialogue and its philosophical underpinning, considers its practical application and suggests that it should not be seen as superior to persuasion.

Revisiting the concept “dialogue” in public relations