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Conspiracy Theory Beliefs and Political Trust: The Moderating Role of Political Communication

Author

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  • Bernd Schlipphak

    (Department of Political Science, University of Münster, Germany)

  • Mujtaba Isani

    (German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), Germany)

  • Mitja D. Back

    (Department of Psychology, University of Münster, Germany)

Abstract

A plentitude of research has analyzed citizens’ belief in conspiracy theories and its individual‐level correlates. Yet, the effects of (political) context factors on the causes and effects of individual belief in conspiracy theories are still neglected. However, such context should be especially relevant when it comes to the impact of one’s belief in conspiracy theories on one’s political preference. In this article, we argue that the communication of governmental actors exerts a moderating influence on the link leading from a belief in conspiracy theories to political attitudes. In a nutshell, the belief in conspiracy theories should make citizens less likely to distrust their government—and the political system in general—in contexts where these theories are shared or at least publicly represented by governmental actors. Using two original data sets with data from Germany, Poland, and Jordan (Study 1) and data from Germany, Poland, Sweden, and France (Study 2), we test our argument based on an overall sample of about 10,000 cases. Our results indicate that higher degrees of generic conspiracy theories beliefs are associated with higher levels of political distrust across countries. Yet, confirming our argument, such an effect takes place less strongly in those countries in which governmental actors use conspiracy theories as a political communication strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernd Schlipphak & Mujtaba Isani & Mitja D. Back, 2022. "Conspiracy Theory Beliefs and Political Trust: The Moderating Role of Political Communication," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(4), pages 157-167.
  • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v10:y:2022:i:4:p:157-167
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.v10i4.5755
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. J. Eric Oliver & Thomas J. Wood, 2014. "Conspiracy Theories and the Paranoid Style(s) of Mass Opinion," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(4), pages 952-966, October.
    2. Huang, Haifeng, 2017. "A War of (Mis)Information: The Political Effects of Rumors and Rumor Rebuttals in an Authoritarian Country," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 47(2), pages 283-311, April.
    3. Roland Imhoff & Felix Zimmer & Olivier Klein & João H. C. António & Maria Babinska & Adrian Bangerter & Michal Bilewicz & Nebojša Blanuša & Kosta Bovan & Rumena Bužarovska & Aleksandra Cichocka & Sylv, 2022. "Conspiracy mentality and political orientation across 26 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(3), pages 392-403, March.
    4. Moreno Mancosu & Salvatore Vassallo & Cristiano Vezzoni, 2017. "Believing in Conspiracy Theories: Evidence from an Exploratory Analysis of Italian Survey Data," South European Society and Politics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 327-344, July.
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