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Scandal: Why Politicians Survive Controversy in a Partisan Era
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 14, 2026
Scandal; why politicians survive scandals in a bipartisan era by Dr.Brandon roddinghouse, if you love gossip and politics then you’ll absolutely love this book called scandal. Although I thought there was a lot of minutia in the beginning it turned out to be a very entertaining absolutely by partisan book about scandals. Whether they were national statewide and even our representatives I don’t think Doctor Roddin house missed much when accounting for the wrong doers and gave a fair balance of everyone’s miss steps. there’s some who won’t like this book because it mainly deals and facts and historical documents that I do believe the independent fair thinker will love this walk down histories lane I don’t think he missed anything. A definite recommendation! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
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October 22, 2025Brandon Rottinghaus, Scandal Why Politicians Survive Controversy in a Partisan Era, Columbia University Press, November 2025.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected proof for review.
I was interested in this book as a way of discovering what an academic approach to political scandal would be, the way in which various types of scandal would or could be measured and the public response to scandal. Rottinghaus has fulfilled my quest for information. However, I am left with a concern that in an era when the mainstream media appears to be numbing public response to egregious political behaviour, an academic work would risk doing so. There is certainly a role for a history of scandalising political behaviour – after all why not? A valid argument can be made that political life is not immune to the forces that impact other areas of society where scandalous behaviour occurs. I would have liked the work to have made it clear that political life and behaviour is not necessarily more prone to scandal than other areas of power. I would also have appreciated an approach that undermined the prevailing view that various examples of scandalous behaviour are equal. The moral imperative might be similar, but the outcomes for supporting and ensuring that a democratic society remains democratic are markedly different depending on the nature of the behaviour seen as scandalous.
The publication features polling data that contributes to understanding definitions of political scandal, factors affecting perceptions of aversion, and the impact of partisanship. By using Watergate as a point of reference, it compares observer attitudes toward historic and more recent political events. An updated edition addressing commutations and Presidential pardons could offer further insight by contrasting current practices with those of the past, and there are additional topics relevant to contemporary politics that may warrant academic study.
Overall, the book provides valuable analysis of political behaviours considered scandalous in the United States and documents varying levels of aversion among observers. It serves as an introduction to studying scandal and its effects, appropriately framing itself as a study of American political behaviour. Including a comparative chapter on political scandals in other democratic countries during a similar timeframe could enhance the analysis by demonstrating notable differences.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected proof for review.
I was interested in this book as a way of discovering what an academic approach to political scandal would be, the way in which various types of scandal would or could be measured and the public response to scandal. Rottinghaus has fulfilled my quest for information. However, I am left with a concern that in an era when the mainstream media appears to be numbing public response to egregious political behaviour, an academic work would risk doing so. There is certainly a role for a history of scandalising political behaviour – after all why not? A valid argument can be made that political life is not immune to the forces that impact other areas of society where scandalous behaviour occurs. I would have liked the work to have made it clear that political life and behaviour is not necessarily more prone to scandal than other areas of power. I would also have appreciated an approach that undermined the prevailing view that various examples of scandalous behaviour are equal. The moral imperative might be similar, but the outcomes for supporting and ensuring that a democratic society remains democratic are markedly different depending on the nature of the behaviour seen as scandalous.
The publication features polling data that contributes to understanding definitions of political scandal, factors affecting perceptions of aversion, and the impact of partisanship. By using Watergate as a point of reference, it compares observer attitudes toward historic and more recent political events. An updated edition addressing commutations and Presidential pardons could offer further insight by contrasting current practices with those of the past, and there are additional topics relevant to contemporary politics that may warrant academic study.
Overall, the book provides valuable analysis of political behaviours considered scandalous in the United States and documents varying levels of aversion among observers. It serves as an introduction to studying scandal and its effects, appropriately framing itself as a study of American political behaviour. Including a comparative chapter on political scandals in other democratic countries during a similar timeframe could enhance the analysis by demonstrating notable differences.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews