This study investigates cultural versus economic conservatism across ninety-nine nations using survey data.

Study Scope: Analyzing right-left attitudes from 99 countries to understand their relationship.

Most people don't fit a simple right-left alignment, according to this large-scale analysis. When they do hold distinct preferences for culture and economy, it's more common that those conservative views are actually opposed rather than aligned. Findings: The research reveals widespread negative correlation between cultural conservatism (protecting traditions) and economic conservatism (preference for traditional economics). This finding shows a clear tension in public opinion.

Where & Why It Dominates: The paper explores conditions under which this 'protection-freedom' attitude structure appears more frequently than the classic right-left alignment. Implications: The findings offer insights into psychological roots of ideology and democratic representation quality, particularly noting potential links to extreme right politics in Western nations.

The results suggest that political conservatism might better be understood as a complex relationship with both cultural traditions and economic systems rather than a simple left-right continuum.