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UMass poll: Significant numbers support ‘great replacement’ theory on immigration
"A disturbing proportion of the American public endorses this right-wing conspiracy theory."
A widely derided racist conspiracy theory called the “great replacement” theory claims that immigrants threaten American “culture and identity.” A poll conducted by UMass Amherst found that one-third of Americans and two-thirds of Republicans agree.
Thirty-seven percent of male respondents and 29 percent of female respondents agreed with the statement “the growth in the number of immigrants in the country means that America is in danger of losing its culture and identity.”
Of the 1,000 respondents, 43 percent of men and 31 percent of women agreed that some elected officials were increasing immigration “to bring in obedient voters who will vote for them.”
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These percentages were higher among respondents who identified as Republicans and who voted for Donald Trump. Sixty percent of Republicans and 64 percent of Trump voters said America is in danger of losing its culture and identity as a result of immigrants; 66 percent of Republicans and 72 percent of Trump voters agreed with the notion that elected officials want more immigrants so they will vote them into office.
“We can see why immigration is such a boiling issue,” said Raymond La Raja, professor of political science at UMass Amherst and associate director of the poll. “Grappling with immigration policy will continue to be among the most challenging tasks for political leadership. There is no dodging the strong emotions that drive people’s politics on this issue.”
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This conspiracy theory, which has been gaining momentum in recent years, is rooted in antisemitism, say the researchers; white supremacists blame Jewish people for nonwhite immigration. The suspect in the mass shooting in Buffalo in May referenced the great replacement many times in his 180-page manifesto.
“A disturbing proportion of the American public endorses this right-wing conspiracy theory, which holds that politicians and corporations are conspiring to replace native-born white people with docile immigrants from developing countries,” said Jesse Rhodes, professor of political science at UMass Amherst and associate director of the poll.
Rhodes partially blames the conservative media for the development and spreading of these ideas.
“Although frustration with immigration is undoubtedly related to the nation’s failure to adopt comprehensive immigration reforms, it is also likely that these attitudes are influenced by conservative media, which have increasingly circulated themes related to the ‘Great Replacement’ theory on programs such as ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight,’” he said.
The poll also measured the nation’s views on abortion, same-sex and interracial marriage, race and affirmative action, marijuana legalization and federal pardons, gun control, and student loan forgiveness. See the top-line results here:
UMass Amherst Poll: Midterm Election – The Issues
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