Citizenship and the public interest throughout the ages: pointers to a new politics?
本文梳理了三种公共利益定义（超验、个人主义、工具主义），指出个人主义定义因纵容贪婪和腐败而失效，提出工具主义定义需包含问责、法治、诚信和回应性，以恢复公众对政府的忠诚。
Political philosophers have for centuries postulated the existence of a public interest beyond the sum of individual citizens’ interests. Three definitions are transcendental, individualistic and instrumental. Transcendental definitions were related to failed ideologies. The individualistic definition has dominated political discourse for the last 30 years. However, it has now been found wanting because it is too permissive of greed and corruption. An instrumental definition must include accountability, legality, integrity and responsiveness and recognise the role of citizens as the community's governors. Only then can a start be made in recovering public allegiance for governments and the political process.