Do a Third of Americans Truly Believe Replacement Theory?
Social scientists who study conspiracy theories say surveys aren’t a reliable way of gauging their support. But there’s still a lot to worry about.
A memorial in Buffalo, New York.
Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty ImagesAfter last weekend’s massacre in Buffalo, NY, news headlines announced that a third of Americans and half of Republicans subscribe to some part of replacement theory, a racist idea believed by the alleged shooter. Those headlines were based on a survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A closer look at the data show those headlines were exaggerated, but even so there is something seriously wrong in this country. We’re being subjected to dangerous forms of political manipulation.
So-called replacement theory holds that a shadowy cabal is engineering an influx of immigrants for political gain — to “replace” conservative White voters with liberal-leaning minorities who will then have some harmful effect on American culture.