Ethics for Public Policy

MIA & MPA Ethics Core. This course investigates how ethical considerations shape, complicate, and often introduce dilemmas into the work of policymaking. It asks what justice, democracy, and responsibility demand in concrete policy contexts—should newly elected leaders pardon former dictators to promote stability or uphold accountability? Should public servants disclose classified information to expose unconstitutional actions, even at the cost of national security? Should nations, during a global pandemic, secure extra vaccines for their own citizens or ensure first doses reach poorer countries? Through a mix of theoretical readings and case studies, students will learn to balance political, institutional, and ethical considerations, develop arguments for their moral choices, and advocate effectively for their policy decisions. The course is designed to cultivate reflective practitioners who can identify moral dilemmas in public policy, weigh competing values, and articulate their ethical positions in ways that are both critical and constructive.