Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Why and when do dictatorships use Western public relations (PR) firms? About 80% of post-World War II dictatorships have enlisted US-based PR specialists. The emerging literature has provided no systematic insight into the role of foreign helpers in authoritarian image management. We argue that authoritarian regimes can hire Western PR professionals to counter criticism, amplify positive publicity, stabilize foreign support, or signal their allegiance. Our macro-quantitative analysis of thousands of contracts between authoritarian regimes and US-based PR firms (1945–2022) offers strong support for two of the logics and partial support for the others. We supplement these findings with evidence from five short case studies. Our findings are crucial for understanding how authoritarian regimes wield soft power and influence foreign public discourse and decision-making.
Source: Security Studies
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4415872163