Political scandal is a thorn in the side of democratic politics that can have wide-ranging effects. Whether a politician’s misconduct is revealed through a whistleblower or he or she gets caught red-handed by the press, political scandal can lead to public disgust, cynicism, distrust, and electoral decline. In the past, greed and lust for power have been essential ingredients of scandal, but other reasons include mendacity, obfuscation, obsession, moral bankruptcy, and lapses in good judgment.
Several studies have investigated the effect of political scandal on politicians’ behavior, but results vary. This article provides an overview of the research literature, examines its main methodological approaches and identifies key moderators (candidate characteristics, behaviors, prior attitudes, context, and scandal type) that significantly influence scandal effects. It also recommends that future research focuses more on the number of actors involved in a scandal because this may vary the results.
Many political scandals are related to corruption. Corruption occurs when public funds are used for private gain, leading to misguided policies that harm the public in the long run. Examples include accepting bribes to get deals passed and allowing industrial conglomerates to avoid regulation and gobble up public resources while workers suffer from overcrowded housing, lack of infrastructure, and low wages. Other forms of political corruption are less visible, such as seeking to hurt enemies and making discriminatory utterances in private. Nevertheless, both types of corruption warp perceptions about what constitutes appropriate behavior, reinforcing a culture of corruption and fueling partisanship.
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