Loarre Andreu Perez

Abstract: Public relation practice is extended all over the world, however, each country’s characteristics produce effects in the way public relations are conceived. France shares certain aspects with global and European public relations, but also shows specific characteristics. This theoretical paper explains how the genesis of the discipline in France shaped public relations, and turned the humanistic point of view into an essential concept to understand French scholars and practitioners. The conception of public relations and its history in the country are vital to understand the discipline, nevertheless, other cultural aspects also affect the discipline. In France, for example, perception of their government and politics, conception of business, existence of a private sphere and tolerance of crises are key aspects to have a whole picture of the country’s public relations. All of these characteristics give birth to a discipline in many ways different to the public relations known in the United States.

Key words: public relations; France; Europe; French public relations; international public relations