Integrity

The Rise of a Distinctive Western Idea and Its Destiny

Martin Albrow (State University of New York - Stony Brook)

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English

Polity Press
03 February 2025

Society & Social Sciences; Social theory; Political corruption

Public life is dominated from time to time by media storms around integrity. The behaviour of elected political leaders has led many to decry the deterioration in standards and the lack of integrity in public life. But what is integrity, and where does our concern with integrity in public life come from?

In this book, Martin Albrow argues that integrity has been an essential component of the rise of the West and a key feature that distinguishes the West from other civilizations. He traces the idea of integrity back to its roots in ancient Greece and Rome, where integrity acquired its special meaning: the unique feature of any object with integrity was that it combined its wholeness or completeness with the embodiment of standards that came from outside it. Integrity was unity through values. He then follows the story of integrity through early Christianity and the Renaissance to the present day. Today, we find ourselves in the paradoxical situation where the lack of integrity in public life is widely condemned while, at the same time, politicians can remain popular without even pretending to act with integrity: this is the new politics of the integrity vacuum.

The idea of integrity may be a distinctively western one but, like many other aspects of western culture, it has now become a property of worldwide society. Albrow concludes by arguing that integrity could add more value today by being combined with non-western wisdom as we strive to create an order where honesty, trust and reliability in our relationships with others are paramount.

This highly original account of an idea that lies at the heart of western culture will be of interest to anyone concerned about the state and future of our public life.

By: Martin Albrow (State University of New York - Stony Brook)
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 221mm, Width: 145mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 408g
ISBN: 9781509559862
ISBN 10: 1509559868
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 03 February 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface Chapter One: An Ancient Legacy for the West Chapter Two: Integrity becomes Modern Chapter Three: The American Experience Chapter Four: The Elusiveness of Personal Integrity Chapter Five: Creative Integrity Chapter Six: Being Human Chapter Seven: Media Storms in the New Century Chapter Eight: The Integrity Crisis of our Time Conclusion: Integrity for the Human Future

Martin Albrow has held numerous professorships and fellowships in the UK, Europe, the US and China and is the author of The Global Age.

Reviews for Integrity: The Rise of a Distinctive Western Idea and Its Destiny

""In a groundbreaking, monumental survey of a massive subject, Martin Albrow explores integrity from the Roman period to the present day, considering among other things the fall of Enron, Wirecard and the Post Office Horizon scandal. He makes a convincing case that integrity is behind all we do or should be."" John Bowers KC, Principal, Brasenose College, Oxford ""An overlooked subject explored with perfect timeliness. The author covers the sweep of western history to show how evolving notions of integrity have been central to those countries’ governments and their sense of themselves."" Bronwen Maddox