Deviation from ethical values in public administration: A case study on a public organization

ÇALIK, Kadir. Deviation from Ethical Values in Public Administration: A Case Study on a Public Organization, Master Thesis, Ankara, 2012.This study on "deviation from ethical values in public administration", was examined the Turkish customs administration as an example, first draws a theoretical framework about unethical behaviors in public administration, after evaluates the results of the case study applied the customs administration.The simplest definition of ethics is a discipline examining values refer to as good-bad, right-wrong in social relations. On the other hand ethics of public administration can be defined as public officials do all actions, laws and moral values of individual on duty areas by melting a pot. At this moment, unethical behaviors and ethical values in public administration have a structure which are more important and of content. The subject with the size of both intellectually and implementing is increasingly gaining importance. Especially in our country, the cases of corruption and dissatisfaction with public services not falling agenda, has become the main agenda item the need for ethics and ethical values for a large part of societyExpressed as a psychological disorder, unethical behaviors constitute an obstacle to the development processes of countries by fed from individual morality and income level, dilemmas of Weberian model bureaucracy and the traditional social structures.To establish a good understanding of management in the public sector and to eliminate high social costs of unethical behavior patterns need to create the ethical infrastructure. The ethical infrastructure in public administration, refers to the whole of the regulations, mechanisms and processes preventing the unethical use of public power. Creating this structure is possible with stability of political leaders, an effective legal infrastructure, effective accountability mechanisms, code of conduct expressing the values and standards, professional socialization mechanisms such as training, appropriate working conditions in the public sector, presence of a centralized board of directors or a private ethics institution providing coordination of ethical issues, participation and control of the public.With the increasing importance of ethics, many legal regulations and administrative mechanisms regarding the ethical infrastructure are established in Turkey. Despite this initiatives, corruption and unethical behaviors in Turkish public administration exist widely. Unable to prevent any unethical behaviors is a reality as long as ethical values and rules are adopted by public personnel and institutionalized within the public administration In this respect, the main starting point is the creation of initiatives and social and individual consciousness on ethics. In other words, the rule-based ethical system of the Turkish public administration with must be combined honesty-based system having guiding and educational features. Only in this way ethics in public administration is put into practice the most effectivelly and so that the legal framework and mechanisms become more meaningful.The issue of ethics is great importance for Turkish customs administration than the other public institutions and organizations. Considered trade-class demands for the immediate completion of customs procedures with the powers and responsibilities of the customs officers give the very favorable environment in order to unethical behaviors arise. The prevalence of unethical behaviors in Turkish customs administration is fed by many bureaucratic practices, structural problems and administrative culture as many as conscious behaviors.To provide a generally accepted a single solution formula is impossible in order to prevent unethical behaviors in the customs administrations. But what must be done is using the ideal tools, mechanisms and processes by bringing a comprehensive understanding of ethical conduct in the customs administrations for the effective implementation of this. This structure consists of clear, understandable and simple customs policies with the combination of customs administrations serving as a professional management approach.Key Words1-Ethics2-Public administration3-Ethical values4-Unethical behaviors5-Ethical infrastructure