Is Whistleblowing a Duty?

Recent years have seen a number of whistleblowers risk their liberty to expose illegal and corrupt behaviour. Some have heralded their bravery; others see them as traitors. Can there be a moral duty to emulate their example and blow the whistle?

In this book, leading political philosophers Emanuela Ceva and Michele Bocchiola draw on well-known cases, such as those of Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, to probe the difference between permissible and dutiful whistleblowing. They argue that, insofar as whistleblowing is understood as an individual act of dissent, it falls short of constituting a duty, although it can be praiseworthy. Whistleblowing should, they contend, be seen as an institutional duty, embedded within the organizational practices of public accountability.

This concise book will be invaluable for students and scholars of applied political theory, and political and professional ethics.

Review

‘Ceva and Bocchiola have produced a timely, engaging, and insightful analysis of whistleblowing as a duty of public accountability, not a matter of personal ethics. It is a major contribution to political ethics.

’Candice Delmas, Northeastern University‘Is Whistleblowing A Duty? is a deeply important contribution to the fields of political theory and professional ethics. It is certain to provoke much constructive debate and discussion amongst scholars and practitioners.

’Rahul Sagar, New York University