Blame as a Political Currency
Blame is often seen as a moral response to failure. But in today’s politics, it’s also a survival tactic. Politicians don’t just fear being blamed—they plan for it. In democracies, where public accountability is crucial, the way leaders dodge responsibility has become a sophisticated part of political life. Blame isn’t just something to avoid; when redirected successfully, it can discredit opponents and boost one’s own legitimacy.
Introducing the Blame Avoidance Toolkit
Political scientists like Christopher Hood have offered frameworks to understand these evasive tactics. Hood’s typology of Blame Avoidance Strategies outlines three broad categories: presentational, policy, and agency strategies. Think of these as tools politicians pull from depending on what’s at stake, who’s watching, and how high the pressure is…
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