Ecological Security or Managers Guide to Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management

Ecological Security: An Evolutionary Perspective on Globalization

Author: Dennis Pirages

Global environmental politics has emerged from its initial incarnation in the arena of low politics and is rapidly becoming a high politics concern. Concern over water pollution, air pollution, deforestation, and related basic environmental issues is giving way to a broader ecological security agenda. In this path-breaking book, Dennis Clark Pirages and Theresa Manley DeGeest argue for dramatically broadening the context in which security priorities are established in an age of increasing globalization. Addressing the very fundamental question of the sources of premature human deaths and associated insecurity, both historically and in the contemporary world, the authors observe that in the twentieth century starvation killed nearly as many people as did military conflict. But disease was responsible for killing nearly fourteen times as many people as was warfare. And in the contemporary world of the twenty-first century, environmental terrorism and biological warfare are blurring the traditional distinctions between natural disasters, accidental deaths, and military casualties. Ecological Security moves the analysis of global environmental and resource issues to the next level by developing an eco-evolutionary perspective for analyzing emerging problems associated with rapid globalization. Preserving future ecological security will depend upon maintaining dynamic equilibriums among human populations, and between them and pathogenic microorganisms, other species, and the sustaining capabilities of nature. This eco-evolutionary framework is used to anticipate and analyze emerging demographic, ecological, and technological discontinuities and dilemmas associated with rapidglobalization. The authors conclude by stressing the need for new kinds of global public goods to mitigate the harshest impacts of these rapid and interrelated changes.

Library Journal

The recent SARS epidemic caused many to wonder not only how and why such outbreaks occur but also what can be done to prevent them. For this ambitious work, Pirages (international environmental politics, Univ. of Maryland) and DeGeest, a graduate student at Maryland, have developed a "dynamic eco-evolutionary theoretical perspective to analyze and anticipate" problems like SARS. They argue that bio-evolutionary and sociocultural evolutionary patterns are more likely to be disrupted today in ways that jeopardize human survival. The heart of the book studies the technological innovations, demographic shifts, and environmental changes that once caused change on a small or local scale, but because of globalization, are experienced nearly instantaneously around the globe. To protect the security of evolution and thereby ensure human existence, the authors contend that global governance (not to be confused with a world government) is needed. While much of the book's data and examples are drawn from other sources, the authors' attempt to create a holistic explanatory model is impressive. Their recommendation for global governance, however, is unrealistic given the current realities of the international system. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries.-Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Book about: International Macroeconomics and Finance or The New International Money Game

Manager's Guide to Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management

Author: David M Dozier

This book reports findings of a three-nation study of public relations and communication management sponsored by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Research Foundation. The Excellence Study provides communication managers and public relations practitioners with information critical to their own professional growth, and supplies organizations with tools that help them communicate more effectively and build beneficial relations with key publics. Communication excellence is a powerful idea of sweeping scope that applies to all organizations -- large or small -- that need to communicate effectively with publics on whom the organization's survival and growth depend. The essential elements of excellent communication are the same for corporations, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional/trade associations. And they are applicable on a global basis.

The study identifies three spheres of communication excellence. These spheres consider the overallfunction and role of communication in organizations, and define the organization of this book. They are:
* the core or inner sphere of communication excellence -- the knowledge base of the communication department,
* the shared expectations of top communicators and senior managers about the function and role of communication, and
* the organization's culture -- the larger context that either nurtures or impedes communication excellence.

This text also examines communication excellence as demonstrated in specific programs developed for specific publics.

Table of Contents:

	Preface
	Acknowledgments
1	What is Communication Excellence?	1
2	Knowing How to Manage Strategically	23
3	Knowing Two-Way Communication Practices	39
4	Knowing Traditional Communicator Skills	53
5	Build Your Knowledge Base	63
6	The Power of the Communication Department	75
7	Shared Expectations of Communication	89
8	Building Linkages to the Dominant Coalition	107
9	What CEOs Should Do About Excellence	121
10	Participation and Authority in the Culture of Organizations	135
11	Empowering Women and Culturally Diverse Employees	149
12	The Global Qualities of Excellence	163
13	Changing the Character of Organizations	183
14	Origins of Communication Programs	195
15	Using Traditional and Advanced Practices	207
16	Communication Excellence Makes a Difference	217
	Appendix: How the Excellence Study Was Conducted	237
	Author Index	251
	Subject Index	253