‘Them’ and ‘us’: demonising politicians by moral double standards |
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Authors: | Cécile Hatier |
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Institution: | School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications , University of Wolverhampton , Wolverhampton , WV1 1LY , UK |
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Abstract: | The distance between politicians and those they are supposed to represent is substantial. Almost invariably, it is politicians themselves who are made to shoulder the responsibility for this ‘gap’, their actions being demonised. This paper assesses some ‘ordinary’ ethical lapses that politicians are often accused of: lying, breaking promises and being self-serving. It is argued that the public tend to apply double standards when it comes to the moral expectations that they have of their representatives, inasmuch as they far more readily accept ethically dubious actions when they apply to other social and public roles. The moral singularity of the political sphere is called into question, with the effect of helping to narrow the gap between the two categories, and encourage more empathy on the part of the public. |
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Keywords: | ethics representative ordinary vice lying promise |
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