Robert Owen

Robert Owen was not a public relations pioneer. In fact, Owen lived his life before the term "public relations" was first uttered or used in any way even close to regularity. Owen, who was born in Wales and died in 1858, was a manufacturer who had the idea that if people would, in the words of historians Will and Ariel Durant, "practice mutual consideration and aid they would enjoy a peace and content such as they had never experienced before." In adapting this perspective - deemed a bit far afield at the time - Owen believed a successful bridge between capitalism and socialism could be established that would result in greater harmony among all.

I turn this spotlight on Owen both because of his commendable notion but because without realizing it, he identified the ultimate goal of public relations. In the early twentieth century, Edward Bernays, called the Father of Public Relations, defined this social science within communication as the harmonious adjustment between peoples. In doing that, Bernays, probably without realizing it, was building on what Owen first set in motion approximately one hundred years before. Yes, Owen was all for making money. But he was also a strong advocate of folks acting for the benefit of others. To do both, he believed, people need to pursue their own self interest along with the needs of others.

At its best, public relations is all about the vision of Owen and, later, Bernays. The ideal way to work toward one's goal is to link it to the needs and hopes of others. This way, the possibility of conflict is minimized as people are conducting themselves with both their own interests and those of others as part of their mind set. Granted, at times achieving such a balance can be formidable. But when one operates under the banner of harmony, then the chances of encouraging others to do the same, increase. And when that happens, then we are all that much closer to peaceful co-existence. Fun fact: In 1825, a group of German-Americans and the town in which they lived in the Indiana Territory were faced with the unwanted prospect of bankruptcy. Owen bailed them out. The residents renamed their town New Harmony.