Ethics and integrity in developmental leadership
14 April 2011
Many developmental problems are attributed to the failure of leadership, and in particular to the absence of either ' ethical leadership' or 'integrity. But what is ‘ethical leadership’? What is ‘developmental integrity’? How is it achieved? And what are the conditions for sustaining it? This is the focus of a new study by the Development Leadership Programme, published in March 2011.
The primary objective of the study was to develop a conceptual framework for thinking about
integrity in developmental contexts, not only at the level of individual behaviour, but also at the
level of institutions. The core argument is that integrity and ethical leadership for development
is not simply a matter of defining and enforcing codes of conduct (or of combating corruption).
Instead, developmental integrity is the outcome of
the interaction between (1) individual integrity (i.e. the moral choices of individuals); (2)
institutions of integrity (the moral ‘codes’ and norms of behaviour, including legal rules); and
(3) the integrity of institutions (institutions that are coherent, perceived as legitimate and that
effectively promote development).
While the research is therefore primarily theoretical and conceptual, it is intended to help policymakers think clearly about ethics and integrity in relation to developmental issues.
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About the Development Leadership Programme
The Developmental Leadership Programme (DLP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative supported by the Australian government. Its goal is to address an important gap in international thinking and policy about the critical role played by leaders, elites and coalitions in the politics of development. This growing programme brings together business, academic and civil society partners from around the world to explore the role of human agency in the processes of development.
DLP focuses on the policy, strategic, and operational implications about ‘thinking and working politically’ - for example, about how to help key players solve collective action problems, negotiate effective institutions and build stable states.
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