| Description |
This qualitative-interpretive case study explores the topic of administrative ethics. It centers on allegations of corruption concerning Utah's former Attorney General, John Swallow, who resigned from office in December 2013. This study addresses how key components of a culture of power contribute to public corruption. Semistructured interviews and archival research comprise the methods utilized. Administrative ethics approaches-the public interest approach, the social equity approach, the virtue approach, and the relational approach-serve as lenses to further assess the case study findings. The first finding is that the placing of high priority on material gains and status is a likely source of public corruption in elective office. The second finding is that the power inherent in the campaign finance system as well as the position of leadership contributes to corruption. The last finding is that relationships encourage trust and loyalty between the public official and his/her social network, often distorting judgment and leading to corruption. These findings indicate that a particular ideology enabled, and compensated for, a lack of commitment to virtuous behavior in office. This study contributes to the literature by providing a fuller understanding of the nature of public corruption, particularly in a one-party dominant political environment. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of culture and its role in contributing to corruption. |
