Ethics in public relationships of a politician

Published on 01 Nov 2025

• Ethical behaviours in the public relationships of a politician

• Transparency and honesty: Providing accurate and truthful information to the public about policies, decisions, and intentions.

• Example: Communicating openly about the rationale behind a proposed bill or government action.

• Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and policies, and being responsive to the concerns and feedback of constituents.

• Example: Holding press meetings to address public questions and concerns.

• Integrity and anti-corruption: Avoiding conflicts of interest and refusing to engage in corrupt practices, such as accepting bribes or kickbacks.

• Example: Publicly disclosing financial interests to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

• Respect for diverse perspectives: Listening to and considering the viewpoints of all constituents, even those with differing opinions.

• Example: Engaging in constructive debates with political opponents to understand and discuss various policy perspectives.

• Public interest focus: Prioritizing the needs and interests of the public over personal gain or political motives.

• Example: Supporting legislation that benefits the majority of the population, even if it may not directly benefit the politician’s own supporters.

• Unethical behaviours in the public relationships of a politician

• Deception and misleading: Providing false or misleading information to the public for personal or political gain.

• Example: Making exaggerated promises during a campaign that are unlikely to be fulfilled.

• Bribery and corruption: Engaging in corrupt practices, such as accepting bribes or using public funds for personal expenses.

• Example: Accepting money or gifts from special interest groups in exchange for supporting their agenda.

• Nepotism and cronyism: Favouring family members, friends, or associates for government positions or contracts without considering qualifications.

• Example: Appointing a close relative to a high-ranking government position despite lacking relevant experience.

• Lack of transparency: Withholding information or engaging in secret dealings that should be made public.

• Example: Concealing financial contributions or campaign funding sources from the public.

• Polarization and divisiveness: Using inflammatory language or divisive rhetoric to appeal to a specific base, rather than promoting unity and understanding.

• Example: Making derogatory remarks about specific ethnic or religious groups to rally support from certain constituents.

Ethical behaviour is essential for politicians as they are elected to represent the public’s interests and uphold the democratic values of their country. Unethical conduct erodes public confidence in the political system and can lead to a breakdown of trust in elected officials.

Tags:
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Keywords:
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Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 4

Topics:
Ethics and Integrity