Political scandal involves the misuse of power or corruption among politicians that threatens the integrity of public institutions. Scandals expose unethical behavior, financial improprieties, or illegal activities that can lead to resignations and major shifts in public opinion. They often highlight broader societal issues, such as corporate influence in government or the failure of public services to meet citizens’ needs.
Political corruption is the abuse of office for private gain, which can include bribery, embezzlement, or other forms of misappropriation of funds, goods, or services. It is an important concern in democracies as it undermines trust and damages the quality of governmental services. The consequences of unchecked corruption can be severe, resulting in lower voter turnout and increased cynicism toward future elections and governmental processes.
Lee and Julia are joined by Charles Hunt, Professor of Political Science at Boise State University (BSU) and Jaclyn Kettler, Associate Professor of Political Science at BSU, to discuss political scandals and how they affect the public. They explore what makes a politician a scandalous figure, when a scandal is actually harmful to society, and how changing media landscapes impact political scandal narratives.
A key insight from the authors’ work is that the higher the level of polarization between two parties, the more it will motivate the aligned party to suppress information about the opposing party’s misconduct and make false accusations, which muddies the waters for voters. This results in political discourse becoming less valuable and leaves voters unable to discern what is fact and what is fiction.
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