Political scandal is a type of malfeasance in which politicians and other public figures engage in behavior that is unethical, illegal, or inappropriate. This type of behavior can damage the reputation of the individual, and it can also lead to a loss in voter trust and skepticism about government institutions. Scandals can have lasting effects on policy and the politics of a country, and the way that they are reported influences how they are perceived by voters.
The definition of a political scandal is contested, but most people agree that it involves abuse of power for private gain. This can include bribery and other types of undue influence, but also includes things like self-enrichment, where officials use their position to obtain financial benefits that are unrelated to the functions of their job. Political scandals can be highly damaging to society, as they can warp policies and reduce the quality of government services that benefit the public.
Many scholars have used functional theories of scandal to explain why certain types of misbehavior are more prevalent in some political systems than others, but these models tend to overlook the negative side effects that scandals can bring about (Sass & Crosbie, 2013; Lupia and Strom, 1995; Tumber and Waisbord, 2000). For example, those who support parties involved in scandals may strategically withdraw their support from those parties to reduce the risk that they will be implicated in future scandals.
Another major factor that contributes to the occurrence of scandal is how it is reported by media organizations. However, these organizations are often guilty of slanting the information they present, and their own opinions can even play a role in whether or not an event is framed as a scandal. As a result, journalists can end up overstating how damning the evidence is against their subjects or understating how exonerating it is.
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