1 CULTURAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
Rather than being seen as an example to follow and a champion of the public good, a whistleblower is often considered untrustworthy. The root cause of this problem lies, to a certain extent, in the apparent conflict between loyalty to the employer and disclosing wrongdoing within an organisation. The fact that whistleblowing is not only in the public interest, but constitutes an efficient tool for risk management within organisations, is often not recognised. 1.1 CONNOTATIONS OF WHISTLEBLOWING Across the 10 EU countries, the term ‘whistleblower’ is associated with being an informant (e.g. in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Romania and Slovakia), a traitor or spy (Bulgaria, Italy) and/or a snitch (Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania). In many of the countries assessed, these negative perceptions of whistleblowing are the result of years of authoritarian regimes and the existence of secret police networks. During Soviet times, individuals provided the authorities with information, often secretly, on neighbours, coworkers and family members. In other cases, such as Ireland and Italy, there seems to be a general mistrust of public authorities and an emphasis on not speaking out against your neighbour or colleague. In countries with small populations – such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – the close-knit nature of communities can pose a significant challenge for whistleblowing mechanisms, particularly in terms of encouraging disclosures and assuring the confidentiality of whistleblowers who come forward.
Across the 10 EU countries, the term ‘whistleblower’ is associated with being an informant, traitor, spy and/or snitch.
This context creates a sizeable obstacle to the pursuit of a more comprehensive legal framework of protection. In Estonia, for example, putting forward legislation is seen as impossible unless a more positive cultural shift takes place towards the idea of whistleblowers protecting citizens’ safety in a variety of areas, from corruption to public health. Yet negative connotations around whistleblowing are not limited to countries with an authoritarian past.
Alternative to Silence
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