At their core, public policy professionals strive to break down crucial societal challenges and find solutions to help their fellow citizens. Whether they’re passionate about hunger, healthcare, human rights, or the environment, their work is grounded in the philosophy of social responsibility.
Students in the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Policy program from the University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV) not only see applications of social responsibility outside of the classroom but also learn the tenets of social responsibility for their future careers.
What Is Social Responsibility?
The term “social responsibility” is often used in reference to corporate social responsibility, an ethical framework popular among major companies like Johnson & Johnson, Google, and Coca-Cola. The concept refers to individuals and corporations taking actions that benefit society, whether reducing plastic waste in manufacturing or building technology software specifically to benefit minority- and women-owned businesses.
Within this framework, company executives can make decisions that create profitable businesses while furthering causes important to their community on the local or even national level. Proponents of social responsibility often refer to the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Leaders hold their organizations accountable to certain moral standards, or ethics, by following transparent procedures that respect human rights, environmental impact, labor practices, and community development.
Some public policy professionals work in corporate environments and nonprofit groups that follow these principles and openly support causes important to their employees through donations or volunteer work. However, many public policy workers are employed by government agencies, where ethics do not follow the tenets of corporate social responsibility.
As Robert Weschler of City Ethics, Inc. points out in the book Local Government Ethics Programs in a Nutshell, government ethics are not about being “good” or “a person of integrity.” In fact, he writes, some actions that would earn praise outside of government—helping a relative secure a new job or returning a favor to a helpful acquaintance—are viewed as unethical.
Government workers must act responsibly and professionally to preserve the agency’s institutional integrity rather than their individual integrity. In turn, government employees must disclose financial connections and relationships so there is no appearance of a conflict of interest when key decisions occur. “With power and authority come responsibility and obligations,” Weschler writes. “And every obligation entails sacrifice.”
Socially Responsible Public Policy Initiatives
While government workers may not be able to take outright political or social stances due to their workplace’s ethical code, they can still carry out initiatives that reflect the government’s—and their own—values. For example, many U.S. cities have revamped their approach to engaging with marginalized communities, including communities of color, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.
The International City/County Management Association encourages government workers to tailor programs to meet communities where they are rather than expecting disadvantaged populations to seek resources. Rather than holding a meeting and grumbling when few people show up, the association advises connecting with community leaders and following up with solutions for the complex challenges these populations face.
In addition to seeking community input and incorporating it into decisions, public policy professionals can also take proactive steps to prevent discrimination before it happens. A 2022 United Nations report details several ideas for public policy initiatives, including prioritizing the selection of minority businesses for government contracts, requiring anti-harassment training for workers, and passing city charters that include anti-discrimination clauses.
With their capacity to forge change at every level of society, public policy professionals “can both be a vehicle for discrimination and provide channels to address it,” according to the UN report.
Learn How Ethics Fit Into Public Policy With UMSV
As part of UMSV’s online BA in Public Policy program, students explore core concepts of marginalization, genocide, moral obligation, human rights, and charity in their Philosophy of Social Responsibility course. Students must complete a community service project as part of the course, preparing them to step into careers serving the public good upon graduation.
Equipped with foundational skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, ethical practices, and analytical analysis, graduates can pursue future education, credentials, or roles such as survey researcher, political scientist, environmental specialist, social science research scientist, and statistician.
Learn more about the University of Mount Saint Vincent’s online Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy program.
