Is Terrorism Necessarily Violent? Public Perceptions of Nonviolence and Terrorism in Conflict...

"Is Terrorism Necessarily Violent? Public Perceptions of Nonviolence and Terrorism in Conflict Settings" by Alon Yakter (Tel Aviv University) and Avishay Ben Sasson-Gordis (Harvard University)

Abstract:

"Common definitions of terrorism assume actual or threatened violence, yet the term is sometimes invoked publicly to decry nonviolent actions. Nevertheless, we know little about the extent to which audiences accept nonviolence as a possible form of terrorism. Our paper explores this understudied question using a preregistered survey experiment in Israel, an active conflictual setting with diverse repertoires of contention. We find that nonviolent actions by an adversary can rank close to violence in denotation as terrorism, illegitimacy, and justified use of repressive force. Like violent actions, these perceptions increase with the action’s violence levels, its non-physical harm, and the audience’s ideological tendencies. Moreover, explicitly labeling nonviolence as terrorism is particularly effective on centrists, who hold swing positions on the conflict. The paper contributes to the growing debate about public perceptions of terrorism, demonstrating their fluidity and relevance for a broader set of actions, including real implications for nonviolent campaigns."

Discussants:

Daniel Arnon (University of Arizona)

Noam Lupu (Vanderbilt University)

OPSC Coordinator:

Brad Smith (Vanderbilt University)