Review of Peter Bowden, 'In the Public Interest: Protecting Whistleblowers and Those Who Speak Out': Melbourne, Tilde Publishing, 2014.

Abstract

Peter Bowden's book 'In the Public Interest' is a valuable contribution to the growing collection of critical literature on whistleblowing and the way that agencies respond to whistleblowing. It's written by a former professor of administrative studies at Manchester University, who also has wide international experience, and thus is well qualified to write on this topic. The scope of the book is ambitious. Bowden announces in the preface that the book "is aimed at strengthening ethical practices in our institutions of government and in our business organisations", and proceeds to examine examples in the UK, USA and Australia. The book also seeks to serve as a self-help book for would-be whistleblowers, and to provide some ethical underpinning for whistleblowing.