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Acta Sociologica
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A Sociology of Scandal and Moral Transgression

The Swedish `Nannygate' Scandal

Kerstin Jacobsson

School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University College, Sweden, kerstin.jacobsson{at}sh.se

Erik Löfmarck

Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS), Södertörn University College, Sweden, erik.lofmarck{at}sh.se

In this article, we use the case of a government scandal in Sweden to develop a theoretical perspective by which to understand the moral nature of political scandals. We draw on insights from Durkheim's sociology of morality and point, inter alia, to the ritual character of scandals. However, in contrast to most Durkheimian readings, the perspective presented does not presume the existence of a moral consensus. The scandal is understood as a confrontation between various systems of norms. Rather than confirming a given moral order, scandals provoke moral positioning and help in clarifying — and dramatizing — lines of difference or conflict. The empirical case studied is a government scandal in Sweden in 2006 (Nannygate) that forced two government ministers to resign after less than 10 days in office when it was revealed that they had not paid their TV licence and, moreover, had bought `black' (untaxed) services. This transgression provoked a massive public reaction at the time.

Key Words: Durkheim • moral transgression • norms • ritual • scandal • social drama • sociology of morality

Acta Sociologica, Vol. 51, No. 3, 203-216 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0001699308094166
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