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Can Terrorism Abroad Influence Migration Attitudes at Home?

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  • Tobias Böhmelt
  • Vincenzo Bove
  • Enzo Nussio

Abstract

This article demonstrates that public opinion on migration “at home” is systematically driven by terrorism in other countries. Although there is little substantive evidence linking refugees or migrants to most recent terror attacks in Europe, news about terrorist attacks can trigger more negative views of immigrants. However, the spatial dynamics of this process are neglected in existing research. We argue that feelings of imminent danger and a more salient perception of migration threats do not stop at national borders. The empirical results based on spatial econometrics and data on all terrorist attacks in Europe for the post‐9/11 period support these claims. The effect of terrorism on migration concern is strongly present within a country but also diffuses across states in Europe. This finding improves our understanding of public opinion on migration, as well as the spillover effects of terrorism, and it highlights crucial lessons for scholars interested in the security implications of population movements.

Suggested Citation

  • Tobias Böhmelt & Vincenzo Bove & Enzo Nussio, 2020. "Can Terrorism Abroad Influence Migration Attitudes at Home?," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(3), pages 437-451, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:64:y:2020:i:3:p:437-451
    DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12494
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    1. Pearce Edwards & Patrick Pierson, 2023. "Incumbent-Aligned Terrorism and Voting Behavior: Evidence from Argentina’s 1973 Elections," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 67(4), pages 672-700, April.
    2. Khusrav Gaibulloev & Todd Sandler, 2023. "Common myths of terrorism," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 271-301, April.
    3. Subhayu Bandyopadhyay & Khusrav Gaibulloev & Todd Sandler, 2023. "Immigration from a terror-prone nation: destination nation’s optimal immigration and counterterrorism policies," Working Papers 2023-014, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
    4. Helbling, Marc & Meierrieks, Daniel, 2022. "Terrorism and Migration: An Overview," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(2), pages 977-996, April.
    5. Peri, Giovanni & Rees, Daniel I. & Smith, Brock, 2023. "Terrorism and political attitudes: Evidence from European social surveys," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    6. Hippolyte d'Albis & Ekrame Boubtane & Dramane Coulibaly, 2022. "Global Uncertainty and International Migration To Western Europe," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 148, pages 1-28.
    7. Marco Giani & Luca Paolo Merlino, 2021. "Terrorist attacks and minority perceived discrimination," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/351080, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. Christian S. Czymara & Anastasia Gorodzeisky, 2024. "Hostility on Twitter in the aftermath of terror attacks," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 1305-1325, October.
    9. Krystyna Kudak & Kateryna Mashiko & Mykhaylo Pityulych, 2023. "Evaluation Of Migration Attitudes And Expectations Of The Population In The Context Of Military Conflict," Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, Publishing house "Baltija Publishing", vol. 9(3).

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