LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

Narine KARAPETYAN

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General Department of Personnel, Ministry of Defense of Armenia

DOI: 10.64404/JoDRM.2025.1.04

Issue: Vol. 16, Issue 1 (30) / 2025

Abstract

  “A man of character in peace is a man of courage in
war. Character is a habit, the daily choice of right and
wrong. It is a moral quality which grows to maturity in
peace and is not suddenly developed in war”.
                                                                 General Sir James Glover

      This article explores the critical intersection of military leadership accountability and ethical decision-making, emphasizing the profound implications of leaders’ choices on personnel and society. It argues that ethical decision-making is an integral aspect of military leadership, rather than a separate concern, and advocates for an interactionist perspective that considers the dynamic interplay of leadership, character, and situational factors. The discussion delves into the necessity of holding military leaders accountable for their actions and decisions, outlining mechanisms for enforcing accountability, including internal oversight, military courts, command responsibility, and transparency. The importance of ethical training for military leaders is underscored, highlighting various ethical frameworks that guide decisionmaking in complex situations. The article also examines the ethical dilemmas faced
by military leaders and the impact of situational factors on moral choices. Ultimately, it posits that fostering a culture of ethical decision-making within military leadership is essential for maintaining trust, integrity, and operational effectiveness.

Key words

      military leadership, ethical decision-making, accountability, ethical training, leadership theories, moral dilemmas, transparency, military ethics, command responsibility, ethical frameworks.

Cite this article: Karapetyan, N. (2025). Leadership accountability and ethical decision-making. Journal of Defense Resources Management, 16(1), 61-72, https://doi.org/10.64404/JoDRM.2025.1.04

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