Social and Political Consequences of Terrorism in Western Europe

Enzo Nussio, Bridget Steele, Darius Farman, Aizhan Orozbakieva, Marta Lindström
 

2016 - 2021

Social science research that emerged after 9/11 shows how the attack changed American public attitudes in terms of trust in institutions, authoritarian values, and pro social tendencies. This project aims to explore the social and political consequences of the recent Islamist inspired attacks in Western Europe using a quasi-experimental design. Little is known about the societal effects of this recent wave of terrorism but the media contributes to the formation of assumptions and beliefs that after these attacks islamophobia increases, political leanings shift to become more conservative, and fear increases. Survey data from a wide range of Western European countries is used to explore how the Charlie Hebdo attack and Bataclan attack in 2015 in Paris, as well as the attack in Berlin in 2016 shaped citizens’ attitudes and emotions, both within the country of the attack and in bordering countries.