Lori Peek, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology and
Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis
Colorado State University

A desire to help


A desire to help
A desire to give



A desire to help
A desire to give
A surge in patriotism





A desire to help
A desire to give
A surge in patriotism
A need to grieve
A need to stand together in solidarity
1. Any sudden or violent reaction; specifically, a
strong political or social reaction resulting
from fear or resentment of a movement,
candidate, ethnic group, etc.
2. An excessive and adverse societal and
governmental reaction to a political or
ideological crisis against a group or groups.
Scapegoating
(stereotypes,
prejudice,
discrimination)
Hate Crimes,
Bias Incidents
State/Government
Policies

Unprecedented surge in anti-Muslim bias in the U.S.
600
481
Hate Crimes
500
400
300
200
155 149 156
128
156
115 105
100
29
27
28
21
32
28
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report
1600
1,501
Hate Crimes
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
354
200
0
2000
2001
Year
Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report
3,000
2,728
2,652
2,467
Incidents
2,500
1,972
2,000
1,717
1,522
1,500
1,019
1,000
500
216
80
366
240 284 285 322
525 602
0
Year
Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations
Why does backlash occur after certain crises, but not after others?
Why are only some individuals and groups singled out for
mistreatment, while others are left alone?
 What can the public and political response to 9/11 teach us about
the processes that set blame assignment and backlash into motion?


Post-9/11
Backlash
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Post-9/11
Backlash
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Post-9/11
Backlash
• 2,973 dead
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
• Thousands
injured
• Widespread
psychological
trauma
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
• $80-$100
billion financial
losses
• 75,000-
100,000 jobs
lost
Post-9/11
Backlash
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Post-9/11
Backlash

Persistently negative media representations

Persistently negative media representations


Persistently negative media representations
Actual global increase in terrorist violence



Persistently negative media representations
Actual global increase in terrorist violence
Conflict in the Middle East
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Muslims as Dangerous
and Threatening
Outsiders
Post-9/11
Backlash
 34% of Americans
believe that Islam
encourages violence
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Muslims as Dangerous
and Threatening
Outsiders
Post-9/11
Backlash
 Nearly 60% of
Americans believe
that Muslims are
prone to violent
extremism
 39% of Americans
admit to feeling
“some prejudice”
against Muslims
 22% of Americans
would not want
Muslims as
neighbors
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Muslims as Dangerous
and Threatening
Outsiders
Post-9/11
Backlash
Identifiability of the
Muslim Population
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Relative
Powerlessness of
Muslims
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Muslims as Dangerous
and Threatening
Outsiders
Post-9/11
Backlash
Identifiability of the
Muslim Population
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Relative
Powerlessness of
Muslims
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Muslims as Dangerous
and Threatening
Outsiders
Post-9/11
Backlash
Identifiability of the
Muslim Population
Intentional Acts of
Mass Violence
Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim
Social and Political
Context
Relative
Powerlessness of
Muslims
Magnitude of Losses
Endured
Muslims as Dangerous
and Threatening
Outsiders
Post-9/11
Backlash
Identifiability of the
Muslim Population


Gallup Polls of Americans:
% who have a negative view of Islam
 14% (2001)
 34% (2002)
 46% (2006)
 53% (2009)
Lori Peek
970-491-6777
Lori.Peek@colostate.edu