Leading questions: Leadership, ethics, and administrative evil

Abstract

Administrative evil is a relatively new ethical concept that originated in the field of Public Administration with the publication of Guy Adams and Danny Balfour’s 1998 book Unmasking Administrative Evil. It describes the phenomenon whereby otherwise well-intentioned individuals participate in systems that cause harm to innocent people. This essay explores the concept and suggests that the implications for leadership studies and practice are worthy of additional exploration. A critique of the concept is provided along with questions that could point the way to additional research.

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