A political scandal involves unethical behavior of government officials and is typically the result of public outrage, pressure to resign, and increased calls for reforms. They affect both the political system and society at large, influencing citizens’ trust in politicians, their view of the overall integrity of the system, and the extent to which they feel their democracy is functioning. Moreover, the emergence of a scandal often triggers long-lasting changes in governance and policy-making.
However, while political scandals have many negative impacts, they also serve a valuable democratic function. In the long term, they help people see how power can be misused and remind citizens why transparency is important. In the short term, they can spark a variety of reactions ranging from partisan loyalty softening damage to major voter swings.
Politicians often engage in scandalization through violations of moral or political norms, such as corruption, tax evasion, and provocative utterances. They can be exposed by media coverage of their behavior, or they may deliberately stage a scandal to manipulate the agenda or smear rivals. Media coverage of a scandal can also be influenced by the political context, including how the scandal is framed and the extent to which it is discussed.
Recent events have highlighted a growing problem of ethical misconduct in the executive branch. A number of scholars have studied the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, including the role of polarization in driving political scandals. A new study by Wioletta Dziuda and William G. Howell reveals that the effects of scandals depend largely on the level of polarization within the political system. The findings suggest that researchers should focus less on the misbehavior itself and more on how it is framed in the media and the degree to which it influences the political climate.