Terrorist attacks sharpen the binary perception of "Us" vs. "Them"

TL;DR

This study analyzes how terrorist attacks influence public perception by increasing attention to divisive topics, reinforcing the binary view of 'Us' versus 'Them', using Wikipedia data to identify thematic shifts.

Contribution

It introduces a novel methodology to measure public attention shifts beyond media coverage by analyzing Wikipedia articles related to terrorist attacks.

Findings

Terrorist attacks increase attention to divisive topics.

They reinforce the 'Us' versus 'Them' perception.

Public curiosity about 'Them' and self-identity is heightened.

Abstract

Terrorist attacks not only harm citizens but also shift their attention, which has long-lasting impacts on public opinion and government policies. Yet measuring the changes in public attention beyond media coverage has been methodologically challenging. Here we approach this problem by starting from Wikipedia's r\'epertoire of 5.8 million articles and a sample of 15 recent terrorist attacks. We deploy a complex exclusion procedure to identify topics and themes that consistently received a significant increase in attention due to these incidents. Examining their contents reveals a clear picture: terrorist attacks foster establishing a sharp boundary between "Us" (the target society) and "Them" (the terrorist as the enemy). In the midst of this, one seeks to construct identities of both sides. This triggers curiosity to learn more about "Them" and soul-search for a clearer understanding of "Us". This systematic analysis of public reactions to disruptive events could help mitigate their societal consequences.