Administrative Narratives, Human Rights, and Public Ethics: The Detroit Water-Shutoff Case. (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghere, Richard K.
• Is Part Of: Public integrity. Volume 19:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 186
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: administrative rhetoric -- code of ethics -- human rights; Civil service ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics; Political ethics; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects; United States; PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; CIVIL SERVICE; MORAL ASPECTS; POLITICAL ETHICS; Periodicals; 172
• DOI: 10.1080/10999922.2016.1222229
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1099-9922

Abstract

Abstract : This inquiry focuses specifically on administrative (local official) narratives that speak to contentious issue contexts of social conflict. Specifically, it draws upon a theoretical connection between hermeneutics and the sociology of knowledge to interpret narrative passages of local officials and others related to a contentious public action—the Detroit Water and Sewerage District's stepped-up water-discontinuation efforts (2014 and 2015) that left thousands of inner-city residents with "delinquent" accounts and no access to water service. Selected narratives from this case are interpreted on the basis of their literary and social functions. The interpretations support a subsequent determination of whether and how the power and influence of administrative narrative assume significance as a matter of public ethics.