A “Pracademic’s” Perspective of Ethics and Honor: Imperatives for Public Service in the 21st Century!

Abstract

This essay addresses ethics and honor, and the role they play in the actions of the public servant for the 21st century. Today’s public servant operates in an age of globalization and a political atmosphere of “market-driven” and “liberation” management. In such arenas, public officials are now encouraged to take the same type of risks as private entrepreneurs do. However, in the wake of financial scandals among leaders and entrepreneurs of some of the largest private corporations in the United States such as Enron, Tyco, and WorldCom, Inc., should such practices be wise for the public administrator? Does the use of the words virtue, ethics, and honor imply that they should serve only as tools depending upon the circumstances allowing the ends to justify the means, or are they indeed imperatives? Just what is ethics in public administration? How do we rationalize or reconcile the use of individual ruggedness associated with privatization in public administration? Juxtaposing my personal experiences, as a “pracademic” and a former city manager, with classical theorists and contemporary authors, I propose to answer these questions, produce a greater depth and clarity of vision on ethics and honor, and prescribe a new course of action and education.