Future-Proof Integrity Management
Toon Kerkhoff · 2025
This chapter discusses the fluidity of the concept of public integrity and the ramifications this has for the ‘macro-level’ integrity management of conducting political and societal debate about what is and is not considered proper public official behavior. First, it underscores the importance of more acute historical awareness by means of looking at historical scandals which supposedly lacked integrity. In scandals, one finds political and societal debate in which norms and values are shaped and actually acquire meaning. Second, it is argued that historical case studies and a full acknowledgement of the fluidity of integrity offers at least three opportunities or ‘lessons’ (rather than obstacles) for future-proof integrity management, i.e. not characterized by integritism and an over-reliance on rules and compliance but—instead—by empathy, patience, a value approach, and realistic expectations of public officials and their roles.