Politician's Privacy

Abstract

During the preceding four decades, the “private” lives of politicians have been subjected to an increasing degree of public scrutiny; so much so that it might be argued that those pursuing or occupying elected office – especially senior positions (e.g., Cabinet ministers) – are often denied a degree of privacy commensurate with adequately respecting and protecting human dignity. In this essay I argue that, while politicians should not be expected to forsake all hope of privacy, the voluntary character of, and responsibilities attached to, elected political office, coupled with citizens’ democratic right to choose their political representatives freely, renders it ethically legitimate for the “public” and many of the “private” elements of politicians’ lives to receive a degree of public scrutiny that greatly exceeds that experienced by their fellow citizens.