Influences of postcolonialism over the understanding and evolution of public relations in Latin America

This chapter presents a brief description of what constitutes Latin America and the regional authors who have contributed to the postcolonial perspective. It explores the application of the postcolonial framework to the field of public relations and also includes an overview of the practice's evolution in the region. The chapter documents the postcolonial approach by examining regional practices of agencies in six Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Venezuela. This is accomplished through the examination of public sources and the official websites of five public relations and/or communication management agencies in each selected country. Globalization, through regional trade agreements, has been a positive factor in the growth of public relations practice and particularly if we refer to the consultancy industry. The arrival and evolution of public relations as a modern practice in the hands of foreign-based multinational corporations has influenced the practice and field of study up to the present.