BUILDING BRIDGES


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Building Bridges Strengthening Government Relations in a Polarized World


Book Description

Understanding Government RelationsIn today's polarized world, building strong relationships between governments and the public is crucial for maintaining a functioning society. Effective government relations play a pivotal role in shaping policies, promoting transparency, and ensuring a harmonious relationship between the government and its citizens. This subchapter titled "Understanding Government Relations" will provide a comprehensive overview of this critical field, with a focus on its significance in public relations. Government relations encompass a wide range of activities and strategies aimed at establishing and maintaining positive interactions between governments and various stakeholders. These stakeholders can include citizens, businesses, interest groups, non-profit organizations, and other levels of government. By understanding the intricacies of government relations, public relations professionals can effectively navigate the complex landscape of political dynamics and advocate for their clients or organizations. One of the primary goals of government relations is to influence public policy. Public relations practitioners must comprehend the policymaking process, including how legislation is formulated, implemented, and evaluated. By gaining insight into this process, professionals can engage in proactive advocacy, collaborate with government officials, and shape policies that align with their clients' interests. Transparency and open communication are essential components of successful government relations. The subchapter will delve into the importance of maintaining a transparent and ethical approach in dealing with government entities. It will highlight the significance of building trust, fostering dialogue, and ensuring that accurate and timely information is disseminated to the public. In an era of misinformation and fake news, public relations specialists must be adept at navigating the media landscape and effectively communicating with the public. Furthermore, the subchapter will explore the role of lobbying in government relations. It will shed light on the ethical considerations surrounding lobbying activities, emphasizing the importance of adherence to legal and ethical boundaries. Understanding the limits and regulations of lobbying is crucial for public relations professionals to effectively advocate for their clients while maintaining a positive reputation. By grasping the intricacies of government relations, public relations practitioners can bridge the gap between the government and the public. This subchapter aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of government relations in a polarized world. Whether working in the public or private sector, this understanding will enable practitioners to effectively advocate for their clients' interests, shape public policies, and ultimately contribute to a more harmonious and prosperous society.




Building Bridges


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Bridge Builders


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In these turbulent times, defined by ideological chasms, clashes over social justice, and a pandemic intersecting with misinformation, Americans seem hopelessly divided along fault lines of politics, race, religion, class, and culture. Yet not everyone is accepting the status quo. In Bridge Builders: Bringing People Together in a Polarized Age, journalist Nathan Bomey paints a forensic portrait of Americans who are spanning gaping divides between people of difference. From clergy fighting racism in Charlottesville to a former Republican congressman engaging conservatives on climate change and Appalachian journalists restoring social trust with the public, these countercultural leaders all believe in the power of forging lasting connections to bring about profound change. Though the blueprints for political, social, and cultural bridges vary widely, bridge builders have much in common—and we have much to learn from them. In this book, Bomey dissects the transformational ways in which bridge builders are combatting polarization by pursuing reconciliation, rejecting misinformation, and rethinking the principle of compromise.




Policy Studies Journal


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Building Bridges


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How much do you know about North Korea? Depending on whom you ask, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is an international laughing-stock, a terrifying nuclear-powered war machine, or a humanitarian crisis of nightmarish proportion. For David Alton, the DPRK is Asia's tragic and prodigal son, long overdue 'coming in from the cold' and returning to the embrace of the international community. The obstacles are gigantic and the record of human suffering is almost beyond description, yet there is still hope for a better future, if only the political and military powers have the courage to seize it. In this book, David Alton and Rob Chidley paint a practical and compassionate picture of North Korea, from the earliest history to the tragic division and right up to the present day. In doing so, they present a North Korea that we can understand, approach, and reach out to with a glimmer of hope.




Adolescents and War


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Hundreds of thousands of children are forced or legally recruited combatants in no fewer than 70 warring parties across the world. In addition to these child soldiers, thousands of youth voluntarily participate in politically related conflict. Why, how, and in what capacities are such large numbers of teenagers involved in war and how are they affected? Adolescents and War brings together world experts in an evidence-based volume to thoroughly understand and document the intricacies of youth who have had substantial involvement in political violence. Contributors argue that the assumption that youth are automatically debilitated by the violence they experience is much too simplistic: effective care for youth must include an awareness of their motives and beliefs, the roles they played in the conflict, their relationships with others, and the opportunities available to them after their experiences with war. The book suggests that the meaning youth make of a conflict may protect them from mental harm. For example, Palestinian teens who were actively engaged in the first Intifada have fared better than Bosnian teens who were virtual sitting ducks to the sniper and grenade launches of the hidden forces during the siege of Sarajevo. Covering youth involvement in conflicts in Afghanistan, Angola, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, and Bosnia, the volume will be of interest to psychologists, sociologists, and political scientists and should be adopted for courses in social psychology, crisis intervention, and international conflict.