Alignment with Global Challenge

Building Resilient Communities

The insights gained from this research will have significant policy relevance for building resilience in communities against discrimination and vulnerability. Knowing more about the way social media is used by citizens to generate solidarity (or create division), and to transform understandings about democratic governmental activity, is necessary to maintaining the rule of law (SDG 16).

The link between threat and government policy has been studied extensively in psychology, and research indicates that many believe the world is a dangerous place and goverments exist to keep their citizens safe.
Yet, a limitation of this work is that it uses methodologies that lack the immediacy of those employed in the current project, and that lack sensitivity to the changes that occur in the direct aftermath of a terrorist attack.

It is crucial then that governments and policy-makers understand how different and disparate communities are experiencing and responding to terrorism in the moment, and to communicate well with diverse communities.