Cross-Border Media Consumption As A Significant Factor in Belief Formation

Pelizzo R. Orazgaliyev S. Kuzenbayev N.
1 August 2025 Florida Gulf Coast University

Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies
2025 #12 Issue 4 171 - 187 pp.

This paper investigates the relationship between trust in Russian television and belief in conspiracy theories among viewers in Kazakhstan. Drawing on an original 2024 survey, we examine whether individuals who consider Russian broadcast television a reliable source of information are more likely to endorse the conspiracy theory linking 5G networks to the spread of COVID-19. Our findings reveal a significant positive association between trust in Russian TV and belief in this conspiracy theory, even after controlling for demographic and socio-economic variables. In contrast, trust in internet news sites is negatively associated with conspiracy beliefs. These results underscore the importance of cross-border media influence and information politics, especially in contexts where countries share common historical and cultural identity traits, such as a Soviet past and a common language. By exploring how foreign media shape narratives and public trust, the paper contributes to our understanding of the role of propaganda and conspiracy in shaping national identity and collective consciousness. The paper also adds to broader studies on informational sovereignty, symbolic politics, and nation-building in transitional regimes.

Conspiracy theories , Cross-border media consumption , Cultural Identity, Information politics , Informational sovereignty , Nation-building , Symbolic politics

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
International School of Economics, Maqsut Narikbayev University, Kazakhstan

Graduate School of Public Policy
International School of Economics

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026