Influence of Various Media Sources on the Fear of Terrorism: A Comparative Study of Japan and Taiwan

Abstract: 

This study examines the relationship between media consumption and fear of terrorism in Japan and Taiwan, two countries that experience low exposure to terrorism yet exhibit high levels of fear regarding terrorism. The analysis investigates the effects of active media sources (such as newspapers and the internet) and passive media sources (such as television, radio, and social media) on fear of terrorism, using data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey. Ordered Logistic Regression (OLR) analysis was conducted on data from 1,273 participants in Japan and 1,221 participants in Taiwan. The findings indicate that active media sources do not have a statistically significant effect on fear of terrorism in either country. In contrast, passive media sources are positively associated with increased fear of terrorism, with this effect being statistically stronger in Japan than in Taiwan. Additionally, demographic factors such as gender, age, and education influence fear of terrorism. In both countries, women report higher levels of fear regarding terrorism than men. In Japan, younger individuals exhibit lower levels of fear regarding terrorism. Education level significantly impacts fear of terrorism in Taiwan, where lower education levels are associated with higher fear regarding terrorism. These findings provide valuable insights into how media consumption and demographic factors influence perceptions and fears of terrorism in low-risk countries such as Taiwan and Japan. 

Keywords: Fear of Terrorism, Japan, Taiwan, Active Media Sources, Passive Media Sources.

LINK: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4228513

Exploring the Reflection of the Definitional Problem of Terrorism in Public Opinion Using Wikipedia Data

Abstract

Terrorism is a global issue, particularly after the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Despite the global attention, there is no common definition of terrorism, as what one country defines as a terrorist is considered a freedom fighter by another. However, the impact of a country's attitude towards such organizations on people's perceptions and discourse has not been thoroughly explored. Accordingly, this study examines Wikipedia content related to the People's Defense Units (YPG), an organization recognized as a terrorist entity by some countries but not defined as such by others. Turkish Wikipedia content about YPG, representing Türkiye, which recognizes YPG as a terrorist organization, is compared with English Wikipedia content about YPG, a viewpoint held by countries like the USA and the UK, which do not recognize it as a terrorist organization. Additionally, Turkish and English content related to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), recognized as a terrorist organization worldwide, is also examined using the sentiment analysis. The analysis reveals that the dominant sentiment in Turkish Wikipedia content related to YPG, representing Türkiye that recognizes YPG as a terrorist organization, is negative, while the dominant sentiment in English Wikipedia content is positive. Conversely, the prevalent emotion in both Turkish and English Wikipedia content about ISIS, universally acknowledged as a terrorist organization, is negative. In summary, the study finds that the attitudes and opinions of countries towards an organization are reflected in society, and the public's attitude towards the organization in the country they reside in also influences the discourse about that organization.

LINK: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ijshs/issue/89666/1614095