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Board of Directors Meeting
May 31-June 3, 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada
Academy Calendar
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Academy Fellow Tackles
the Ethics of Dissent
Guerrillas in government are all around us, writes Academy Fellow Rosemary O’Leary in her new book, “The Ethics of Dissent: Managing Guerrilla Government.” The term “guerrilla government” describes career public servants who work against the wishes of their superiors which, O’Leary states, happens more than we may realize in government’s bureaucracy.
O’Leary says guerrillas often choose to remain “in the closet,” moving clandestinely behind the scenes, such as “Deep Throat” or the DMV clerk who deliberately slows the processing of a driver’s license application. Guerrilla dissent is carried out by those who are dissatisfied with the actions of public organizations, programs—or by people who choose not to go public with their concerns.
Ultimately, O’Leary found in her research that public servants and managers could benefit from addressing guerrilla activity. She says they should carefully listen to the creative ideas of these dissenters, even encourage debate, so that constructive changes in the system can be made.
Buy “The Ethics of Dissent: Managing Guerrilla Government”.
The views expressed in this book are those of the Fellow. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Academy as an institution.
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