Analysis of the Canadian Defense Ethics Program Decision-Making Guidance

<p>The post-cold war operating environment the strategic corporal phenomenon the war on terrorism and the increased public demand for ethics and professionalism in the Canadian Forces present significant challenges for the Canadian Defense Ethics Program. The problem is that ethical decision making for members of the Canadian Forces is becoming more challenging while at the same time there is less tolerance for poor ethical decision making. The Department of Defense implemented the umbrella Defense Ethics Program in 1997 for both federal civil servants and military members. The program does not specifically address the unique professional challenges associated with military ethical decision-making. Thus the central research question of this thesis asks if Defense Ethics Program guidance is effective. Three case studies tested Defense Ethics Program ethical decision-making guidance in comparison to two allied military decision-making models. Defense Ethics Program guidance proved effective in one case study involving a nonoperational ethical dilemma. In two case studies involving operational dilemmas Defense Ethics Program guidance proved less effective than the two allied military decision-making models. If the Canadian Defense Ethics Program adopted an operationally oriented ethical decision-making model then it would provide more effective guidance for members of the military.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>