Public Integrity

by J. Patrick Dobel

In this groundbreaking book, J. Patrick Dobel describes and analyzes the elements that constitute integrity in public office. Drawing on case studies, memoirs, interviews, and fiction (e.g., John Le Carré), Dobel addresses such issues as when to resign and when to stay in office. He examines the temptations of power, the relation between private and public life, and the role of honor and prudence in making personal decisions. He applies not only moral theory but also the insights of history, organizational theory, and psychology. Unlike most political ethics books, Public Integrity puts personal responsibility at the center of public morality, examining not just the responsibilities of office but also the role of personal moral commitments and promises. This timely book reminds us of the importance of public integrity as well as the demands and challenges that often threaten that integrity, especially in a liberal democracy such as the United States.

Genres: Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1999

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent articulation of the need for integrity in public life that feels like a lost call after the last two and a half decades of American history since it was written.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobel's discussion of administrative ethics is dense and sometimes tedious, but the ideas and ideals are applicable and important for those wishing to understand the implications of administrative discretion.