Whether they expose corruption or unethical behavior, political scandals shake trust. They often lead to people resigning or losing elections and can also lead to greater transparency or more oversight. However, not all political controversies are scandals.
What turns a private act of misbehavior into a political scandal? It is important to remember that political scandals are not just about misdeeds, but they are about the consequences of that bad behavior. Scandals are about the loss of public trust in leaders and institutions, and they can have many repercussions—including citizens boycotting elections or renouncing their membership in political clubs and groups.
The defining feature of political scandal is that the bad conduct violates norms of ethical and legal conduct. These norms are set by societal expectations and the culture of a country. In addition, they can be enforced by laws and political processes that hold individuals accountable for their actions.
In polarized times, politicians that are accused of misconduct suffer the most in terms of reputational damage from the scandal. The politicization of scandals also makes it harder for voters to determine if accusations are true, as parties may selectively expose or deny information.
In this week’s podcast episode, Lee and Julia discuss political scandal with Jaclyn Kettler and Charles Hunt, two Political Science Professors at Boise State University (BSU). The trio unpacks the definition of a political scandal, shares scandals that shaped history, and explores the impact political scandals have on society.
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