Political scandal involves the misuse of entrusted power for private gain. It is a key driver of corruption and can undermine the legitimacy of government institutions, contributing to lower voter turnout and increased cynicism toward future elections and policies. It is characterized by unethical behavior and corruption, including bribery, financial improprieties, or sex scandals, as well as personal behaviors that erode public trust such as lying or provocative utterances. Scandals have historically influenced governance and policy-making by prompting reforms such as ethics laws, greater transparency, and more robust accountability mechanisms in government.
Nevertheless, the negative consequences of scandal vary across time and institutions. This is partly due to the way political parties manage misconduct, particularly when they muddy the waters with partisan attacks that muddily differentiate accusations from one party to another. This dynamic has accelerated in our current polarized era as politicians seem to suffer little consequence when a scandal hits, even if they have engaged in questionable behavior.
What can explain these discrepancies? In their new article, University of Chicago political scientists Wioletta Dziuda and William G. Howell present a model that highlights how political polarization influences the creation and effects of political scandals. The model consists of two parties with an elected official that is the target of allegations about questionable behavior. The party that has this information can reveal it to the voters or choose to hide it. In the latter case, both parties may engage in “fake news” tactics along party lines, which further complicates voters’ ability to determine the truth.
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