The abuse of entrusted power for private gain, usually involving illegal or unethical activities like bribery or other forms of undue personal enrichment. Scandals can be long-lasting and reshape political discourse around ethics in government. For example, the Watergate scandal prompted reforms that increased transparency and accountability in American politics.
Political scandals can be triggered by anything that seems shady, such as an affair between a politician and a member of the public, or by claims that politicians are breaking the law or other unethical practices. They can also be triggered by politically irrelevant events, such as the false claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (Solomon, 2013). They can also be sparked by events that did not happen at all, such as President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky or his decision to award a series of norm-busting pardons before leaving office (Sabato & Lichter, 1994).
Although scholars have debated what functions political scandals serve, most theories focus on positive rather than negative outcomes. They argue that they compensate for the failure of government institutions to fulfill societal functions, such as maintaining social order and sanctioning illegal activity. Moreover, functionalists believe that scandals can lead to more honest behavior in the future by exposing unethical or illegal activities. Scandalous conduct can erode trust in democratic institutions, leading to lower voter turnout and increasing cynicism about future elections and government. In addition, it can discourage people from donating to charities or other organizations that are supposedly trying to help the poor or less fortunate.