A deadlier post-9/11 terrorism landscape for the USA abroad: a quasi-experimental study of backlash effects of terrorism prevention

Objectives The United States initiated sweeping counterterrorism efforts after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This study tests a backlash hypothesis as it relates to the nature of attacks against the US abroad. Methods Relying on data from the Global Terrorism Database, this study uses a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hsu, Henda Y. (Author)
Contributors: Vásquez, Bob Edward ; McDowall, David
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
In: Journal of experimental criminology
Year: 2020, Volume: 16, Issue: 4, Pages: 607-623
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:Objectives The United States initiated sweeping counterterrorism efforts after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This study tests a backlash hypothesis as it relates to the nature of attacks against the US abroad. Methods Relying on data from the Global Terrorism Database, this study uses a quasi-experimental design to investigate whether attacks against the US abroad became more or less lethal after 9/11. Results There is a significant increase in the proportion of attacks with fatalities and a significant decrease in the proportions of non-lethal attacks against US targets and interests overseas after 9/11. The results suggest a redistribution in the lethality of attacks against the US abroad. Conclusions This study finds evidence of a backlash of deadlier terrorism violence against the US abroad after September 11. Examining for unintended consequences is an important facet of terrorism prevention research and policy.
ISSN:1572-8315
DOI:10.1007/s11292-019-09393-y