A study of Ifop published Sunday draws the portrait of a France very fond of theories of conspiracy. But, contrary to popular belief, the result remains constant and substantially identical to that of other Western countries.
We lie, we hide everything. "The CIA is involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy", "the Earth is actually flat" or "the AIDS virus was created in the laboratory and then tested on African populations": the conspiracy theories have the side with the French, according to a large survey of Ifop for the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and the website Conspiracy Watch, published Sunday, January 7.
Only one in five French does not adhere to any conspiracy thesis, according to this survey with a sample of 1,252 people over 18 years. The most popular are a secret pact that binds the French government to the pharmaceutical industry to hide the harmfulness of vaccines, theses alternative to the death of JFK, those concerning the origin of AIDS and the alleged manipulation of the terrorist organization State Islamic (IS) by Western governments.
Most addicted: 25% of French
The authors of the survey, however, want to relativize these results. They separate the more than 50% of the French who believe only three conspiracy theories to the maximum. They have a critical approach to conspiracy. This is why, "the soft belly of the country leans rather on the non-conspiracy side," notes the Jean-Jaurès Foundation.
The more addicted - who adhere to more than five conspiracy theses and are quick to believe the "unofficial" versions of information - represent "only" 25% of the population. A figure that seems nevertheless important, especially at the time of fake news. These French people are blessed bread for all those who try to influence public opinion with rumors launched on the Web.
There is not, however, a sudden outbreak of conspiracy that would shake the foundations of Cartesian France. "The results are in fact in line with other past surveys," says Julien Giry, political scientist at Rennes 1 University, contacted by France 24. The number of conspiracy theories addicts is relatively constant, and significantly the same as in other Western countries, says the researcher.
The Ifop study also confirms that conspiracy theories appeal regardless of the level of education. The widespread idea that conspiracy is recruited first among the least educated segments of the population "has been dismantled since the 1970s," says Pascal Froissart, senior lecturer in information and communication sciences at Paris 8 University, contacted by France 24.
Young people stigmatized?
Still, this new robot portrait of the French conspiracyist reserves some surprises. He is under 35, voting Mélenchon or Marine Le Pen, and often consult his horoscope.
The existence of a conspiracy fracture - young gullible, more critical old men - has rarely been put forward as in this study. It is easily explained, according to Julien Giry. In a complex world, and sometimes scary for young people, "conspiracy theories are reassuring because they simplify problems and make sense," says the expert.
"The younger we are, the more we work in community, the digital networks work the same way which explains the filter bubbles (the fact of being exposed only to a version of a fact relayed by friends who share the same opinions), making young people more permeable to these beliefs ", adds Pascal Froissard.
But these two experts also warn against the temptation to stigmatize young people. "We must not equate any social criticism with an adherence to conspiracy theories," says Julien Giry. This is not because young people will question more "official versions" and doubt the established media that they are necessarily conspiracy.
Pascal Froissard goes further. For him, the study shows above all that "young people have beliefs, sometimes questionable, but that are normal at this age". It should be that youth is done ...
More generally, the two researchers believe that the methodology of the survey is sometimes questionable. The respondents could not, for example, choose the option "do not pronounce", which is however classic in opinion studies. For Julien Giry, it is also unfortunate that respondents who said they had never heard of any theory of conspiracy are still invited to say whether they believe it or not.
