The Links between Populist and Denialist Attitudes

• In Event: Understanding Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories

Abstract

This research investigates the links between populism and denialism in Portugal, Spain and the UK by discussing the preliminary results of a representative survey implemented from November 2022 to January 2023 in the three countries. Using as examples the pandemic crisis, vaccination, and climate change, the survey was designed to measure the extent to which these populations hold populist and denialist attitudes towards science; to measure the levels of trust in different types of institutions responsible for creating and disseminating relevant information (e.g., government, political parties, media outlets, journalists, scientists, experts, etc.); as well as to explore potential correlations between all of these elements and assess the proneness to accept disinformation and conspiracy theories. Considering the differences between the three countries’ political and media environments and the way in which these populations have adhered to measures to tackle the pandemic crisis, the expectation is to find relevant differences in the level and type of these attitudes. This study is part of research project Matrix funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (reference PTDC/CPO-CPO/4361/2021).

Author

• Susana Salgado, Instituto de Ciências Sociais - Universidade de Lisboa