Dr Muhammad Jameel Yushau
Congratulations to the newly admitted students at HKS. Your excitement is palpable, and the next few months will undoubtedly be a time of significant change and growth. You are embarking on a unique journey, one that is both challenging and rewarding. At HKS, the focus is on experiential learning that prepares you for the real world. It’s a professional and graduate school, which means that the teaching and pedagogy are entirely different from the conventional academic and theory-driven approach to learning.
An excellent example of this approach is Governor Deval Patrick’s class on principles and politics. On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Governor Patrick invited Senator Mitt Romney, 2012 presidential candidate for the Republican Party, and Margaret Talev, a former CNN journalist with years of experience covering campaigns. The three-hour session was entirely dedicated to a question-and-answer format between students and guests, with a short break sandwiched between the two sessions.
From the interaction, there were several lessons to be learned. The first lesson centered around business tycoons and entrepreneurs who decide to join public service. The discussion revolved around whether the experience gained in the private sector can help them be good public servants. From the conversation, it became clear that although people can make a difference in business, public service is unique because it gives the opportunity to enact policies that will support businesses but also protect public interests. Having a business background can also be an advantage if ethically applied in public service.
The second lesson focused on whether business leaders could understand and care for ordinary people. It’s a gray area without a clear-cut answer. There are responsible business tycoons who are passionate about public service and can make a difference when given the opportunity. Similarly, there are professionals and technocrats who have a passion for improving people’s lives. There are also selfish and self-aggrandized individuals on both sides to whom public service is simply a pipeline to enrich themselves.
The third and final lesson revolved around the role of the media in reporting the truth about public officials. It reminded me of my classes in political communication both as a student and as a teacher in some universities a decade ago. Media manipulation has always been a challenge, and to quote Philip Knightley’s classic work “In Times of War, Truth is the First Casualty,” I can paraphrase by saying that in many cases, “truth is the first casualty in politics.”
Overall, it was an enriching discussion that equipped students with underlying nuances of the challenges faced by those who want to remain true to their principles when engaging in public service.
Takeaway: Public service is an essential yet imperfect undertaking.
