MACMILLAN How Is Terrorism Changing Us?: Threat Perception and Political Attitudes in the Age of Terror

This book examines how the perception of terrorism threat erodes civil liberties, sows doubt about the loyalties of immigrants, and heightens the left-right ideological divide. The book presents original analysis of survey data and experiments conducted in Australia, Europe and the United States. Research in the book posits questions that others have largely avoided: How does the threat of terrorist violence undermine multicultural democracies? What are the psychological and social mechanisms that explain how the threat of terrorism can change political attitudes? What is the relationship between terrorism and death threats? What is the role of media in shaping the perception of terrorism threat? And what are the ethical responsibilities of journalists? This book will help readers distinguish between groundless speculation and solid scientific knowledge of the topic. Moreover, it provides concrete recommendations on how to prevent the most negative consequences of the polarization of political attitudes, such as social divisions, exclusivism and conflict. Given the broad geographical scope of the research presented in the book, specifically North America, Europe and Australia, this book will appeal to broad scope of readers. Review “This is an elegant and magisterial treatment of the matter of our times. The insights contained in this important book will be invaluable for psychologists and political scientists and for political analysts, practitioners and commentators. The book will also serve as a superb starting point for students and lay readers seeking a readable, but always scholarly, introduction of a psychological approach to political events. Not all journalists and politicians will welcome the author’s policy recommendations but all of them need to read it.” (Craig McGarty, Western Sydney University, Australia) “This book provides compelling evidence on the ways in which terrorist violence undermines multicultural democracies in Australia, Europe, and the United States and rips at the very fabric of liberal democracy. Vergani arrives at this conclusion through the analysis of survey data and focused experiments informed intellectually by a rich blend of psychological, sociological, and political thinking.” (Leonie Huddy, Stony Brook University, USA) “Matteo Vergani’s book provides a comparative analysis of a troubling phenomenon especially in established democracies and it is a valuable resource for grasping the complex array of causes underlying it. This is a smart and timely must read for those interested in the consequences of terrorism on political attitudes and opinion climates.” (Gianpietro Mazzoleni, University of Milan, Italy) “How Is Terrorism Changing Us offers a well-written, accessible, empirically-grounded analysis that thoughtfully refines previous anecdotal ideas about terrorism’s consequences for voter behavior and sense of threat. Coming on the heels of far right populist surges across western democracies, Vergani’s comprehensive synthesis of recent research on how terrorism affects political attitudes could not be more timely or important.” (Cynthia Miller-Idriss, American University, USA) From the Back Cover “This is an elegant and magisterial treatment of the matter of our times. The insights contained in this important book will be invaluable for psychologists and political scientists and for political analysts, practitioners and commentators. The book will also serve as a superb starting point for students and lay readers seeking a readable, but always scholarly, introduction of a psychological approach to political events. Not all journalists and politicians will welcome the author’s policy recommendations but all of them need to read it.” ― Craig McGarty, Western Sydney University, Australia “This book provides compelling evidence on the ways in which terrorist violence undermines multicultural democracies in Australia, Europ