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What makes us feel vulnerable to terrorism? Transportation systems may hold answer

Date:
March 6, 2014
Source:
Taylor & Francis
Summary:
How do we perceive our vulnerability to terrorism? Is it through our sense of place, such as urban neighbourhoods where we live or offices where we work (as evidence has previously suggested); or is it actually through mobility, when we are traveling between places, the contradictory notion of 'placelessness?' According to this study, it is transportation systems that make us feel more at risk to terrorism rather than the sense of 'placelessness' itself. It is not so much the destination of our journey, but rather the journey itself that influences our perceived vulnerability to terrorism.
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How do we perceive our vulnerability to terrorism? Is it through our sense of place, such as urban neighbourhoods where we live or offices where we work (as evidence has previously suggested); or is it actually through mobility, when we are traveling between places, the contradictory notion of 'placelessness'? Recent research published in Urban Geography addresses this very question.

Focusing his research on people's perceptions of their vulnerability to terrorism, Kevin Keenan conducted interviews with householders in Boston, US in 2008, and encouraged them to define terrorism and talk about their feelings towards it.

According to this study, it is transportation systems that make us feel more at risk to terrorism rather than the sense of 'placelessness' itself. It is not so much the destination of our journey, but rather the journey itself that influences our perceived vulnerability to terrorism.

Despite this, Keenan's study also reveals that "the poor are quite aware of their vulnerability and relative immobility," suggesting that our personal wealth can amplify or attenuate our sense of vulnerability. This highlights a policy need to increase mobility options for the poor, which may help to increase the chances of effective evacuation in the event of a terrorist incident.

Whether it is our sense place, or 'placelessness' that makes us feel most at risk of terrorism, this study remind us of the importance of being aware of our surroundings when we are on the move, to help us feel more secure in our everyday lives.


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Materials provided by Taylor & Francis. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Kevin Keenan. Place ontologies and a new mobilities paradigm for understanding awareness of vulnerability to terrorism in American cities. Urban Geography, March 2014 DOI: 10.1080/02723638.2014.881022

Cite This Page:

Taylor & Francis. "What makes us feel vulnerable to terrorism? Transportation systems may hold answer." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 March 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140306093712.htm>.
Taylor & Francis. (2014, March 6). What makes us feel vulnerable to terrorism? Transportation systems may hold answer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140306093712.htm
Taylor & Francis. "What makes us feel vulnerable to terrorism? Transportation systems may hold answer." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140306093712.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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