The interrelationship between ethics and integrity in public administration

Abstract

This article aims to provide clarity on the contextual confusion that exists between ethics, integrity and its associated terminology. A review of public administration theories related to ethics and integrity is traced back to early philosophers’ thinking, after which the social contract is discussed. Countries have developed and implemented codes of conduct and frameworks for preventing and managing ethics and integrity in the public service. The article analyses the context and effectiveness on both the preventive and management fronts using qualitative research methods to present an overview of ethics, integrity and related concepts, the changing and growing nature of ethics and integrity in public administration, ethics frameworks and whistle-blowing as a means to clamp down on corruption. As act-focused interventions fail to address ethical and integrity issues, the article argues that actor-based approaches focused on public servants present a robust complementary approach to curb vices. The article concludes by presenting possible areas for future research on ethics and integrity in public administration.