Introduction

Paradoxical thinking has inspired theorists and researchers in fields ranging from psychotherapy to communication, business, and quantum physics. Public relations emerged from social movements aimed at winning converts, raising money, gaining legitimacy, and agitating and advocating for or against something. In the 1890s, Progressive Era politicians, journalists, business leaders, and reformers employed publicity and propaganda to reform government, business, and society. In response to publicity’s semantic demise, professional publicists embraced public relations as the new name for promotional and publicity work. They emphasized the power of truthful information and ideas to advocate in the court of public opinion. Paradoxes are important because they “reflect the underlying tensions that generate and energize organizational change”. Public relations scholars promote dialog and two-way symmetrical communication as normative and then lament the fact that one-way and asymmetric communication continue to dominate professional practice. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concept discussed in this book.