From bribery to illegal campaign contributions, political scandals expose misconduct and corruption that shake public trust. These controversies often spark calls for reforms that enhance government accountability and integrity. However, researchers have yet to fully understand why and when these controversies occur and what impact they have on politics and society.
The Watergate scandal, for example, shook public confidence in the government and led to reforms that increased transparency and oversight. Yet, the Watergate scandal also led to a decline in voting and a rise in nonvoting—which ultimately undermines democratic principles. This is because people who do not vote are less likely to influence their representatives, making elected officials less accountable and more insensitive to voters’ concerns.
A growing body of research on political scandal provides insight into how and why these controversies occur. The key underlying driver is a politician’s motivation to gain power or resources through unethical behavior, which can be motivated by the pursuit of personal or political benefits. This can lead to a loss of credibility, the erosion of norms, and even more corrupt behavior, creating an unvirtuous cycle that damages society and democracy.
The question of how to break this vicious circle is a critical one for democracy. Our research suggests that political polarization accelerates the generation of political scandal, reduces the value of political discourse by turning scandals into “he said-she said” accusations and counter-assertions, and incentivizes politicians to engage in bad behavior because they know their party will have their backs.
