Citizens and conspiratorial anti-science beliefs: Opposition versus support in 38 countries across Europe

Abstract

This article aims to clarify citizens’ responses to conspiratorial anti-science beliefs (e.g. “The cure for cancer exists but is hidden from the public by commercial interests”). Based on Eurobarometer 95.2 (Spring 2021, 38 countries), we examine how public opposition or support for conspiratorial anti-science beliefs is related to individual- and country-level variables. There were large differences between the countries in their opposition or support. Controlling for artifacts, the individual-level variables showed associations with science-specific variables, for example, knowledge, preferred communication sources, social evaluations of scientists, attitude toward vaccines, and more general political (dis)satisfaction. At the country level, Affluence and Women’s representation were useful indicators for describing these differences. The conclusion is that the negativity of conspiratorial anti-science beliefs can be avoided by policies that highlight the rationality of science as a source of orientation and legitimation for change processes, and that are responsive to the needs of all citizens.