The Public v Private Dilemma (CL3)

Officials in the realm of politics find themselves experiencing two sharply distinct and polarizing pressures: 

• the push of their social obligations and duties, which are based on their publicly defined roles and functions e.g. Chairman of Department X, Minister of State for Y, Archbishop of Diocese Z, Editor of Newspaper W;

  &
  

• the pull of their own self-interest, which flows from private concerns and specific personal needs, wishes, ambitions and weaknesses. 

So the dynamic duality generates 2 distinct Centres in Level-3 for those active in a society's politics.

It is immediately obvious that the private interests (CL3_P) and the defined obligations (CL3_S) of Officials unavoidably interact and influence each other.

Q: Why does the diagram show the Private-CL3_PCentre on the right i.e. as dominating Official obligations-CL3_S ? 

A:

Any individual’s interests should dominate obligations because all individuals must be self-reliant. The discharge of social obligations by a person or organization, no matter how brilliant and beneficial for all, does not create any general indebtedness or responsibility on other parties. So if the individual gets into difficulties later, no rescue can be expected as of right.

Conclusion:  Fundamental conflicts of interest by officials are intrinsic to politics.

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• More about conflicts of interest.

Originally posted: July 2009; Last updated: 2 June 2014.