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Anti-Western Conspiracy Thinking in China and Russia: Empirical Evidence and its Link to Expectations of Collusion

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  • Alexander Libman

    (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich)

  • Björn Vollan

    (Philipps University of Marburg)

Abstract

We report some preliminary evidence on the spread of anti-Western conspiracy thinking in Russia and China as well as on whether it correlates with decisions made in nonpolitical settings. We conduct a survey of students at two universities in Moscow and Beijing, as well as an implement experimental game in which participants make costly decisions as to whether they expect (pairs of) other participants to collude against them. Anti-Western conspiracy thinking is widespread in both countries. However, only in China, but not in Russia, does the belief in Western conspiracies correlate with lower levels of expectation of collusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Libman & Björn Vollan, 2019. "Anti-Western Conspiracy Thinking in China and Russia: Empirical Evidence and its Link to Expectations of Collusion," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 135-163, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:homoec:v:36:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s41412-019-00082-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s41412-019-00082-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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