Globalization and Public Relations in Postcolonial Nations: Chal ...

Chapter 2

The Economic Discourse Of Globalization

Because the dominant discourse surrounding globalization has been economic, we outline the contours of that discourse here to provide context for the issues we discuss in the following chapters. We do so fully aware that we cannot cover the entire discursive landscape in such a limited space. Structuring the chapter around the terminology of global macroeconomic growth, however, allows us to touch on many relevant areas, including trade, foreign direct investment, and aid. It also demonstrates that macroeconomic labels are loaded terms; that is, in fact, a major point of the discussion.

Throughout, we illustrate how these dominant economic discourses influence the practice of public relations. We also make the case that although the dominant discourse of globalization has been economic, globalization is at its core a social issue, and public relations efforts must engage the social, not just the economic, side of globalization if they are to be effective.