Review
"At a time when confidence in public office holders is low, Dobel shows that there still is virtue in public life. His research clearly indicates that office holders can be individuals of character and integrity if they put aside their focus on self-interests and ground their decision-making powers in the obligations of office, personal capacity and commitments, and prudence and effectiveness."--Daniel Baracskay, Journal of Politics


Review
"Just when Americans in great numbers have given up on expecting integrity and prudence from public officials along comes Pat Dobel. He writes for anyone holding any public office but the book is even more important for non-office holding citizens. Never preachy, but always demanding, Dobel's accessible erudition persuades the reader of both the difficulty and the nobility of holding public responsibility. Public Integrity will attract some of America's finest into public life. It's that good."--John E. Brandl, Dean, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota


Book Description
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.


From the Publisher
"In Dobel's book the outlines of public integrity come into view. We see the extent to which integrity remains compatible with inconsistencies over personal history and social geography, the ways in which it can abide both pluralism and pragmatism."—Andrew Stark, American Political Science Review "At a time when confidence in public office holders is low, Dobel shows that there still is virtue in public life. His research clearly indicates that office holders can be individuals of character and integrity if they put aside their focus on self-interests and ground their decision-making powers in the obligations of office, personal capacity and commitments, and prudence and effectiveness."—Daniel Baracskay, Journal of Politics "Just when Americans in great numbers have given up on expecting integrity and prudence from public officials along comes Pat Dobel. He writes for anyone holding any public office but the book is even more important for non-office holding citizens. Never preachy, but always demanding, Dobel's accessible erudition persuades the reader of both the difficulty and the nobility of holding public responsibility. Public Integrity will attract some of America's finest into public life. It's that good."—John E. Brandl, Dean, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota


About the Author
J. Patrick Dobel is a professor of public affairs, adjunct professor of political science, and associate dean in the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. He is the author of Compromise and Political Action: Political Morality in Liberal and Democratic Life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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 Carre), 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.

SYNOPSIS

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.

Author Biography:J. Patrick Dobel is a professor of public affairs, adjunct professor of political science, and associate dean in the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. He is the author of Compromise and Political Action: Political Morality in Liberal and Democratic Life.

FROM THE CRITICS

Andrew Stark - American Political Science Review

In Dobel's book the outlines of public integrity come into view. We see the extent to which integrity remains compatible with inconsistencies over personal history and social geography, the ways in which it can abide both pluralism and pragmatism.

Daniel Baracskay - Journal of Politics

At a time when confidence in public office holders is low, Dobel shows that there still is virtue in public life. His research clearly indicates that office holders can be individuals of character and integrity if they put aside their focus on self-interests and ground their decision-making powers in the obligations of office, personal capacity and commitments, and prudence and effectiveness.

Booknews

Moving beyond theory (although drawing on it as well), Dobel (public affairs, U. of Washington) explores the responsibilities and pressures faced by public officials in their day to day activities by using case studies, memoirs, and interviews. He presents dilemmas such as when officials choose to resign and why, the temptations of power, the relationship between public and private life, and the role of personal conscience in making public decisions, to conclude that personal responsibility should be at the center of public morality. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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