This important book chronicles, responds to, and advances the leading theories in the public relations discipline.

Carl H. Botan is Emeritus Professor of Communication at George Mason University, USA.

Erich J. Sommerfeldt is Associate Professor at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, USA.

Chapter 1. Introduction: In the Age of Publics Chapter 2. In the Age of Publics: Evolving Understandings of Theory and Publics Chapter 3. A "Public" by Any Other Name: Reclaiming Publics Theory, and Liberating Publics From "OPR" Chapter 4. Theorizing Digital Engagement in Public Relations Chapter 5. Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS): A Foundational Theory of Publics and its Behavioral Nature in Problem Solving Chapter 6. Applying the Network Perspective to Public Relations Theory and Practice Chapter 7. Development of Intercultural Public Relations Theory Chapter 8. Agenda Building Through Community Building: Theorizing Place and Digital Space in Grassroots Activist Public Relations Chapter 9. Dialog Theory in Public Relations Chapter 10. Capturing the Complexity and Dynamism of Decision Making in PR: The Contingency Theory of Strategic Conflict Management Chapter 11. Crisis Communication Theory: Emergence of a Vibrant Sub-Field of Public Relations Theory Chapter 12. Digital Crisis Communication Theory: Current Landscapes and Future Trajectories Chapter 13. Social theory in Public Relations: Insights and Directions Chapter 14. The IDEA Model Theoretical Framework: An Explication of Risk Communication as Engaged Public Relations 15. Public Relations in a Postdisciplinary World: On the Possibility of Establishing a Constitutive Theory Within the Tribal Struggles of Communication Disciplines Chapter 16. Introduction and Advances in Feminist Theory in Public Relations Chapter 17. Critical Race Theory, Identity and Public Relations Chapter 18. Public Relations Theory Development In China: In the Areas of Dialogic Communication, Crisis Communication, and CSR Communication Chapter 19. Culture and Dialog Theory in Public Relations: The Middle Eastern Context Chapter 20. European School of Public Relations: Origins,Main Traits, and Theoretical Contributions Chapter 21. Public Relations Theory in Latin American Culture And Context: A Post-Colonialist Perspective Chapter 22. Inviting an Ubuntu-Based Approach to Public Relations Theory Building in Sub-Saharan Africa Chapter 23. Health Communication Theory in Public Relations Chapter 24. Relationship Management Theory: Its Past, Present, and Future Chapter 25. Media Relations: Research, Theory, and the Digital Age Chapter 26. The Implications of Character Assassination and Cancel Culture for Public Relations Theory Chapter 27. Strategic Issues Management: A Rhetorical Theoretical Perspective on Contestable Questions of Place Chapter 28. Theoretical Models for Corporate Social Media Use Chapter 29. A Theoretic Perspective on the Evolution of Ethics Chapter 30. Reflections on the Evolving Theories of Public Relations