فضيحة .. لماذا ينجو السياسيون من الجدل في عصر الاستقطاب الحزبي

The scandal was previously thought to be an inevitable end to a political career. Today, it seems that surviving scandals is the norm. Donald Trump has weathered — and perhaps even benefited from — a controversy that would have been unimaginable for any other candidate. Prominent figures from both parties won the elections and remained in office despite credible allegations of irregularities. Do scandals still matter? When and why do voters punish or condone politicians? This book traces the changes that have occurred from the Watergate scandal to the present day, and is an in-depth and engaging study of the politics of scandal. By combining large-scale survey data, an innovative experimental design, and historical analysis, Brandon Rottinghaus shows how political polarization, emotional partisanship, declining trust in the media, and the spread of misinformation have reduced the impact of controversy. Although scandals continue to bring down many politicians, there is a clear trend over time towards a decline in the number of voters affected by them. In a polarized world, scandals have little impact on politicians' popularity, retention in office, ambitions, and political legacies. Often, party supporters accept - and even welcome - misconduct by members of their own party, and enjoy scandals that befall the opposing party. Drawing on comprehensive data, this book highlights the declining importance of scandals and their implications for democratic accountability, challenging prevailing notions.