Building Integrity In Government

The Building Integrity in Government Program is an 18-month pilot project currently hosted at the Blavatnik School of Government. Based at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, our program aims to provide an authoritative account of the meaning of integrity, highlighting the importance of original research on the subject. By engaging with practitioners, we hope to develop a clear theory of change for promoting integrity within public institutions. The question of integrity in government has never been more important than it is today. Public trust in leadership is at an all-time low and it is clear that where problems such as corruption flourish, the fabric of democracy is weakened. Many leaders now see the need for dramatic and rapid reform. But while the will is there, uncertainty remains about how to effectively tackle these complex and multi-faceted issues, particularly as economic and political landscapes differ so greatly. The ultimate aim of the programme is to establish a permanent multi-disciplinary institution within the School focused on researching and promoting integrity within public institutions. Our core objectives are: 1. To provide an authoritative account of the meaning of integrity as it applies to public institutions. 2. To undertake original empirical research on what promotes and impedes integrity within public institutions. 3. To develop a clear theory of change for the building of integrity within public institutions. 4. To foster partnerships with actors in private, governmental and civil society spheres in order to facilitate change within public institutions.