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Essentially, this book discusses ‘the relevance, limitations and/or applicability of specific values to the ‘quality of governance’. This chapter focuses on ‘integrity’ as the basic value, reflecting on its relationship with quality. This is not a simple endeavor. Integrity and quality of governance relate to a multitude of topics and disciplines. Basic questions concern the precise meaning and relevance of ‘governance,' of ‘integrity of governance’ and of ‘quality of governance’ (including many of the values addressed in this book, including legitimacy, accountability, transparency, lawfulness, and effectiveness). Our basic line of reasoning seems to be that integrity is an important (public) value amidst (many) others, while quality refers to all relevant values. This chapter focuses on some questions-perhaps even blind spots-in our interpretation of integrity within such a quality framework. A number of topics or questions will be addressed in the next paragraphs: (1) What is ‘governance’? (2) What is ‘integrity (of governance)'? (3) What is ‘quality of governance’ as used in research into public values, good government, and good governance? (4) What is the meaning/content of integrity in the context of quality of governance or good governance, taking into account the different phases of governance? The process of answering these questions will prompt suggestions for our research agenda.

In the concluding chapter, the editors address the central topics of the book as well as some lessons learnt on quality of governance. Public values do matter, but how do they relate (and conflict), with many actors involved in public governance, including at street level and in public-private networks? A broad panorama of values appears to be important for the quality of governance, but the interpretation of the values differs and context is always relevant (macro, meso, and micro). Thus, the work in progress and the chapter define an agenda for future research and offers food for thought for all levels of governance.