Projecting Peace and Prosperity

This chapter unpacks and assesses the Rwandan government’s authoritarian image management strategies under the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). As relatively small, and aid dependent for much of the period under analysis, Rwanda under the RPF had special incentives to pay attention to authoritarian image management as the latter entrenched its power domestically. Perhaps for this reason, the RPF has been an unusually successful authoritarian image manager in attaining regime security. After presenting a brief historical background, the chapter establishes how the RPF works to create a foundation on which to build its promotional image management efforts by obstructing outsider critics. Next, it discusses how part of Rwanda’s promotional strategy entails retention of public relations firms to burnish the image of the RPF and its leader Paul Kagame. Finally, the chapter turns to the most brazen element of the RPF’s image management, namely the intimidation and repression of critics abroad.

Introduction

Authoritarian states try to present a positive image of themselves abroad. They invest in foreign-facing media, retain public relations firms, and showcase their successes to elite and popular foreign audiences. But there is also a darker side to these efforts. Authoritarian states try to obscure or censor bad news about their governments and often discredit their critics abroad. In extreme cases, authoritarian states intimidate, physically attack, or even murder their opponents overseas. This book is about how authoritarian states manage their image abroad using both “promotional” tactics of persuasion and “obstructive” tactics of repression. They adopt these practices to enhance their internal and external regime security, or put differently, to make their world safe for dictatorship. This chapter introduces the main arguments, themes, and data of the book.

Academics engaging through the media—Insights from creating a monthly column on crisis management

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Universities increasingly expect academics to engage with external stakeholders. This includes providing media commentary. In this article I describe my experience writing a monthly column on Crisis Management in the New Zealand Herald, the most widely read newspaper in New Zealand with an average daily readership of over 460,000 people (New Zealand Herald, 2019). The article also describes the benefits of writing a newspaper column including educating the public about issues relating to Crisis Management such as managing Covid-19, creating a platform for enhancing collaboration between academics and Public Relations firms, and enhancing the reputation of both the academic and university. This article will benefit academics in the field of Public Relations who are interested in writing a newspaper column to engage through the media.

Academics engaging through the media—Insights from creating a monthly column on crisis management

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Universities increasingly expect academics to engage with external stakeholders. This includes providing media commentary. In this article I describe my experience writing a monthly column on Crisis Management in the New Zealand Herald, the most widely read newspaper in New Zealand with an average daily readership of over 460,000 people (New Zealand Herald, 2019). The article also describes the benefits of writing a newspaper column including educating the public about issues relating to Crisis Management such as managing Covid-19, creating a platform for enhancing collaboration between academics and Public Relations firms, and enhancing the reputation of both the academic and university. This article will benefit academics in the field of Public Relations who are interested in writing a newspaper column to engage through the media.

Social media will be key Nigerian poll battleground

Subject Nigerian social media. Significance A growing number of Nigerians have online access and are sharing information on social media platforms. Such dissemination is proving increasingly influential in driving political change, sustaining protests and shaping electoral processes. Impacts Nigeria’s electoral commission will face an uphill battle to combat sophisticated hacking of tabulated results. A recent lowering of election age limits is unlikely to result in a sizable increase in youth candidates due to high campaigning costs. Nigerian political parties will likely again employ international public relations firms in campaigns despite their dubious effectiveness. Authorities in neighbouring Cameroon are likely to pursue internet shutdowns ahead of their forthcoming polls amid worsening insecurity.

Public Relation Professionalism

This chapter draws from extensive research conducted in various public relations firms in the United Arab Emirates and describes contemporary research practices on which these firms are building. Their inclination is toward incorporation of permanent research in their organizational framework and in-depth analyses regarding how public relations firms evolve and meet clients' future expectations. In-depth analyses were conducted in national, international, small, average, and high-scale public relations firms to determine how research is helping, at various levels, to excel and impress clients. Mixed research methods were used; 350 questionnaires were distributed and 17 face-to-face interviews were conducted over 7 months. Results suggest that the economic, social, and institutional characteristics of public relations firms in the United Arab Emirates are dissimilar to other countries, so extensive research is required to determine the significance of research concerning improving public relations practices in the country.

Research Practices in Public Relations Organizations in the United Arab Emirates

This manuscript draws from extensive research conducted in various public relations firms in the United Arab Emirates, and describes contemporary research practices on which these firms are building. Their inclination is toward incorporation of permanent research in their organizational framework and in-depth analyses regarding how public relations firms evolve and meet clients' future expectations. In-depth analyses were conducted in national, international, small, average, and high-scale public relations firms to determine how research is helping, at various levels, to excel and impress clients. Mixed research methods were used; 350 questionnaires were distributed and 17 face-to- face interviews were conducted over 7 months. Results suggest that the economic, social, and institutional characteristics of public relations firms in the United Arab Emirates are dissimilar to other countries, so extensive research is required to determine the significance of research concerning improving public relations practices in the country.