Business diplomacy and international public relations

Abstract

Recently one has observed the democratization of diplomacy, i.e., the broadening of the access and of the participation of multiple stakeholders in international business – both public and private. This article will analyze what brings closer two areas that are erroneously considered to be distinct, such as diplomacy and public relations – or, to be more precise, the business diplomacy and the international public relations. Both involve the designation of representatives, work essentially in the sphere of social relationships and act concomitantly in the local and global spheres. International public relations have much to gain from this parallel, inasmuch as they could be to a large extent seen as a kind of “civil diplomacy”. Although it may not be absolutely correct to defend the perfect synonymy between business diplomacy and international public relations, it is perfectly pertinent to affirm that both of them share in common more affinities than differences.