Editing Public relations (section)

=== Politics and civil society ===
In ''[[Propaganda (book)|Propaganda]]'' (1928), [[Edward Bernays|Bernays]] argued that the manipulation of public opinion was a necessary part of democracy.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://archive.org/details/EdwardLBernays-Propaganda| title = Edward Bernays ''Propaganda'' (1928) p. 10}}</ref> In public relations, [[lobby groups]] are created to influence government policy, corporate policy or [[public opinion]], typically in a way that benefits the sponsoring organization.

In fact, Bernays stresses that we are in fact dominated in almost every aspect of our lives, by a relatively small number of persons who have mastered the 'mental processes and social patterns of the masses,' which include our behavior, political and economic spheres or our morals.<ref>Edward Bernays, "Organizing Chaos," in Propaganda, (New York: H. Liverlight, 1928), 10.</ref> In theory, each individual chooses his own opinion on behavior and public issues. However, in practice, it is impossible for one to study all variables and approaches of a particular question and come to a conclusion without any external influence. This is the reason why the society has agreed upon an 'invisible government' to interpret on our behalf information and narrow the choice field to a more practical scale.<ref>Edward Bernays, "Organizing Chaos," in Propaganda, (New York: H. Liverlight, 1928), 11.</ref>

When a lobby group hides its true purpose and support base, it is known as a [[front group]].<ref>See Peter Viggo Jakobsen, ''Focus on the CNN Effect Misses the Point: The Real Media Impact on Conflict Management is Invisible and Indirect'', Journal of Peace Research, vol.37, no.2. Institute of Political Science, University of Copenhagen (2000).</ref> Front groups are a form of [[astroturfing]], because they intend to sway the public or the government without disclosing their financial connection to corporate or political interests. They create a fake grass-roots movement by giving the appearance of a trusted organization that serves the public, when they actually serve their sponsors.

Politicians also employ public relations professionals to help project their views, policies and even personalities to their best advantages.<ref>{{citation|title=On the Record: Politics, Politicians and Power|first=Laurie|last=Oakes|page=191|year=2010|publisher=Hachette Australia|isbn=978-0-7336-2700-2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Farmer|first=Yanick|date=2 January 2018|title=Ethical Decision Making and Reputation Management in Public Relations|journal=Journal of Media Ethics|volume=33|issue=1|pages=2–13|doi=10.1080/23736992.2017.1401931|s2cid=158618395|issn=2373-6992|url=http://archipel.uqam.ca/12464/1/Ethical%20Decision%20Making%20and%20Reputation%20Management%20in%20Public%20Relations.pdf|access-date=14 January 2020|archive-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620144748/https://archipel.uqam.ca/12464/1/Ethical%20Decision%20Making%20and%20Reputation%20Management%20in%20Public%20Relations.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>