Recent research has found a strong connection between belief in various conspiracy theories and antisemitism in the United Kingdom. This study, detailed in the journal Contemporary Jewry, found that antisemitic attitudes toward Jewish individuals are strongly linked to beliefs in personal well-being conspiracies. Meanwhile, antisemitic views related to the State of Israel and its supporters correlate more with theories about governmental wrongdoing.
The correlation between antisemitism and conspiracy beliefs is not new and has been documented in historical studies. However, limited research has explored how different types of conspiracy beliefs specifically relate to different types of antisemitic attitudes, which this study seeks to address using comprehensive data analysis techniques.
The research utilized a sample of 1,722 adults drawn from YouGov’s database, which includes a wide range of individuals across the UK. This approach allowed for a balanced and representative sample reflective of the broader population.
The data collection occurred online, integrating the survey into YouGov’s regular political omnibus polling, which is designed to capture a snapshot of public opinion at regular intervals. The survey was conducted over a single weekend in December 2021, ensuring that responses were gathered in a concise timeframe to minimize external influences that might change public opinion.
To measure antisemitism, the researchers employed the Generalized Antisemitism scale along with its two subscales: Judeophobic Antisemitism (focusing on attitudes toward Jews) and Antizionist Antisemitism (focusing on attitudes toward the State of Israel and its supporters).
Judeophobic Antisemitism focuses on attitudes directed specifically towards Jewish people, measuring traditional forms of antisemitism that involve stereotypical views and discriminatory beliefs about Jews as a religious or ethnic group (e.g., “Jewish people chase money more than other people do”).
On the other hand, Antizionist Antisemitism addresses attitudes towards the State of Israel and its supporters, capturing a form of political antisemitism that can sometimes blur the lines between legitimate criticism of a nation-state and prejudicial attitudes towards its people (e.g., “Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media”).
To assess conspiracy beliefs, the researchers used the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs scale. This scale is divided into five factors, each representing a different domain of conspiratorial thinking.
- Government Malfeasance includes beliefs about government involvement in illegal or harmful activities, such as “false flag” terrorist attacks.
- Malevolent Global Conspiracies involves theories that suggest global elites control various aspects of the world (like politics and economics) for nefarious purposes.
- Extraterrestrial Coverup captures beliefs that governments are hiding the truth about extraterrestrial life.
- Personal Well-being focuses on conspiracies related to health and personal safety, such as pharmaceutical companies withholding cures to ensure profits.
- Control of Information concerns the manipulation of information by powerful entities to mislead the public.
The researchers found that all types of conspiracy beliefs measured were positively associated with all forms of antisemitism. This overarching result confirms the hypothesis that a propensity to believe in conspiracies is likely to co-occur with antisemitic attitudes. However, the strength and nature of these associations varied depending on the type of conspiracy belief and the form of antisemitism.
Personal well-being conspiracies showed the strongest association with Judeophobic Antisemitism. This suggests that individuals who feel that external forces are harming their personal health may be more susceptible to believing in traditional antisemitic stereotypes.
Government malfeasance conspiracies were most strongly linked to Antizionist Antisemitism, indicating that those who distrust governmental actions are more likely to extend this skepticism towards political and national entities like Israel.
Malevolent global conspiracies were found to correlate highly with Generalized Antisemitism, which encompasses both Judeophobic Antisemitism and Antizionist Antisemitism.
The researchers also found that factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and educational level were related to antisemitic attitudes. Older respondents tended to express higher levels of Antizionist Antisemitism compared to their younger counterparts. This might suggest generational differences in how political and historical contexts are understood and internalized, particularly in relation to the State of Israel.
Female respondents generally exhibited lower levels of Judeophobic Antisemitism but slightly higher levels of Antizionist Antisemitism compared to male respondents. Respondents from non-white ethnic backgrounds reported higher levels of both forms of antisemitism compared to white respondents. This could be influenced by various factors, including socio-economic status, experiences of discrimination, or differing perceptions of global and local politics.
Education played a notably protective role against antisemitic attitudes. Individuals with a degree-level education exhibited lower levels of all forms of antisemitism compared to those with lower educational qualifications. This effect points to the potential of education to challenge prejudicial beliefs and promote critical thinking about stereotypes and misinformation.
The researchers acknowledged certain limitations in their approach. The study’s design was cross-sectional, meaning it could only capture a snapshot in time without indicating causality or changes over time. The reliance on self-reported measures and the potential for social desirability bias were also noted as constraints.
Future research could benefit from longitudinal studies that track changes in conspiracy beliefs and antisemitic attitudes over time. Additionally, exploring other potential mediators, such as personal experiences or broader socio-political contexts, could provide deeper insights into the roots and manifestations of these beliefs and attitudes.
The study, “The Relationship Between Antisemitic Attitudes and Conspiracy Beliefs: A Cross-Sectional Study of UK-Resident Adults,” was authored by Daniel Allington, David Hirsh, and Louise Katz.