416 Global Ethics for Leadership
- “Civil servants have some duties and obligations, such as respect
for authority, report any breach of the rules, disclose any conflict
of interest, and keep confidentiality.” - “Loyal, efficient, and competent.”
- “Fulfil your employment contract.”
- “At work they have to implement the ethical code of their organi-
zation. Otherwise they should leave.” - “Adhere to the rules of ethics and honesty.”
These comments, and hundreds of other similar comments that I
have heard over these last many years reveal four themes:
- International civil servants are and see themselves as role
models who have a civic and contractual duty to uphold the
missions of their employers. - International civil servants see themselves as exemplary and
virtuous, not necessarily due to their own personal traits and
behaviors, but because they work for international organiza-
tions. - International civil servants follow the rules.
- International civil servants are confused when it comes to
articulating the cardinal virtues that they should demon-
strate.
In other words, international civil servants sense that there should be
common ethical principles and virtues that unify the experiences of
those who work for international organizations. International civil serv-
ants want to affiliate with entities and other like-minded individuals who
share these core virtues. Yet, finding one’s way through the confusing
thicket of ethical codes, standards, and expectations is remarkably chal-
lenging.