Regulators of Last Resort: Whistleblowers, the Limits of the Law and the Power of Partnerships, Cambridge University Press, has just been published.  This book is inspired by the people who work to support whistleblowers. Since beginning research on whistleblowing over ten years ago, Professor Kate Kenny encountered the many advocates, activists, journalists, lawyers, colleagues, and partners who work tirelessly and behind the scenes to support workers speaking out about wrongdoing in their organization.  This support is essential, particularly when legal protections fail. Yet these whistleblower allies are rarely mentioned in accounts of whistleblowing, and some encounter reprisals themselves.  Professor Kenny wanted to shine a light on the critical work they do.

The book draws on case studies from different organizations including Amazon, Facebook and Theranos among others.  It also examines recent changes in the landscape of whistleblowing, from lawfare to weaponizing official channels. It focuses on some of the unexpected opportunities whistleblowers with allies have used, when retaliating employers make mistakes.  In addition to the whistleblower and their supporters, the book takes the perspective of ordinary managers working in retaliatory organizations, and aims to understand why they act as they do.

Regulators of Last Resort: Whistleblowers, The Limits of the Law and the Power of Partnerships is priced at approx 24 GBP, and the publisher offers a discount code (RLR2025) until September.

Complementing the book’s focus, Professor Kenny hosted a panel of international experts in November ’24 discussing the latest changes to the landscape of whistleblowing support and alliances, at the Transparency International Ireland ‘Integrity at Work’ conference. This can be watched online and speaks to the book’s themes.