A political scandal is a public revelation of wrongdoing by politicians. It can be triggered by corruption, ethical lapses, or personal affairs and has severe consequences for democracy and governance. Scandals lead to voters’ distrust of politicians, and may decrease civic engagement. Moreover, they can undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions and their decisions. In addition, politicians involved in scandals may be punished by their voters or removed from office, e.g., by resigning or retiring before the next election or being replaced by their party.
Research has been conducted on the causes and effects of scandals, including their influence on voter attitudes and behavior, as well as politicians’ career outcomes. Most studies use a qualitative approach to examine the factors that shape scandals and their effects, whereas others utilize cross-sectional, panel, or longitudinal designs. The majority of the research has been published in communication journals (Communication & Mass Media Complete, PsycINFO, Journal of Communication, and Press/Politics), although there is also some work that has been published in political science and psychology.
One influential theory about the function of scandal is that it helps to distinguish between politicians who are different from the kind they publicly pretend to be and those who do not, i.e., that it allows voters to evaluate politicians by their private character. Moreover, it is argued that the exposure of bad behavior is inherently a political decision, with each party weighing the costs and benefits against its own interests.