Blame and Backlash: Muslim Americans after 9/11

1. Lori Peek, Ph.D. Department of Sociology and Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis Colorado State University Blame and Backlash: Muslim Americans after 9/11

2. September 11, 2001

3. September 11, 2001

4. September 11, 2001

5. Response to 9/11

6. Response to 9/11 • A desire to help

7. Response to 9/11 • A desire to help • A desire to give

8. Response to 9/11 • A desire to help • A desire to give • A surge in patriotism

9. Response to 9/11 • A desire to help • A desire to give • A surge in patriotism • A need to grieve • A need to stand together in solidarity

10. Sadness, Strength, and Solidarity

11. Shock and Fear

12. Anger and Outrage

13. Backlash 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.

14. Types of Backlash

15. Post-9/11 Backlash • Unprecedented surge in anti-Muslim bias in the U.S.

16. Anti-Islamic Hate Crimes (1995-2008) Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report

17. Anti-Other Ethnicity/National Origin Hate Crimes (2000-01) Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report

18. Anti-Muslim Bias Incidents (1995-2008) Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

19. Understanding Backlash • 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?

20. Post-9/11 Backlash

21. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Post-9/11 Backlash

22. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Post-9/11 Backlash

23. 2,973 dead Intentional Acts of Mass Violence • Thousands injured Magnitude of Losses Endured • Widespread psychological trauma • $80-$100 billion financial losses Post-9/11 Backlash • 75,000-100,000 jobs lost

24. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim Social and Political Context Magnitude of Losses Endured Post-9/11 Backlash

25. Pre-9/11 Hostile Context • Persistently negative media representations

26. Pre-9/11 Hostile Context • Persistently negative media representations

27. Pre-9/11 Hostile Context • Persistently negative media representations • Actual global increase in terrorist violence

28. Pre-9/11 Hostile Context • Persistently negative media representations • Actual global increase in terrorist violence • Conflict in the Middle East

29. 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

30. 34% of Americans believe that Islam encourages violence • Nearly 60% of Americans believe that Muslims are prone to violent extremism Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim Social and Political Context Magnitude of Losses Endured • 39% of Americans admit to feeling “some prejudice” against Muslims Muslims as Dangerous and Threatening Outsiders • 22% of Americans would not want Muslims as neighbors Post-9/11 Backlash

31. Outsiders

32. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim Social and Political Context Magnitude of Losses Endured Muslims as Dangerous and Threatening Outsiders Identifiability of the Muslim Population Post-9/11 Backlash

35. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim Social and Political Context Magnitude of Losses Endured Muslims as Dangerous and Threatening Outsiders Relative Powerlessness of Muslims Identifiability of the Muslim Population Post-9/11 Backlash

36. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim Social and Political Context Magnitude of Losses Endured Muslims as Dangerous and Threatening Outsiders Relative Powerlessness of Muslims Identifiability of the Muslim Population Post-9/11 Backlash

37. Intentional Acts of Mass Violence Pre-9/11 Anti-Muslim Social and Political Context Magnitude of Losses Endured Muslims as Dangerous and Threatening Outsiders Relative Powerlessness of Muslims Identifiability of the Muslim Population Post-9/11 Backlash

38. Backlash Inertia • Gallup Polls of Americans: • % who have a negative view of Islam • 14% (2001) • 34% (2002) • 46% (2006) • 53% (2009)

39. Questions? Comments?Thank you… Lori Peek 970-491-6777 Lori.Peek@colostate.edu