Does the intensity of protests induce terrorism?

This article examines the impact of protests and demonstrations on the terrorist attacks within a country. While some studies in the relevant literature have explored the relationship between these variables, this research is unique in its empirical approach using panel data, with a specific focus on the intensity of protests and their effect on terror attacks. This article’s proposed mechanism underscores the significance of political stability as a deterrent against terrorism—a stability that can be undermined by ongoing protests. Using a sample of 26 countries for the period 2002–2018, the empirical findings strongly support the hypothesis that persistent protests are connected to an increased likelihood of terror attacks—a relationship robust even when control variables are considered. The estimation results also reveal that an augmented military strength has a negative impact on the occurrence of terror incidents. Furthermore, the durability of a political regime is linked to a decrease in the number of terror incidents. Additionally, the results indicate that the level of democracy contributes to the occurrence of terror incidents.