The July 22 Terrorist Attacks in Norway and Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Counterterrorist Authorities

Abstract

Based on two surveys, conducted before and after the 2011 terror attacks in Norway, this chapter studies the attacks’ effects on people’s attitudes toward institutions and governmental policies related to security. The study shows that citizens are less satisfied with governmental policies after the attacks, but there is little change with regard to general confidence in institutions responsible for security. Citizens’ party preferences prior to the attacks are crucial to understanding how individuals respond to security policies after the attack. On issues of security, the distance between right-wing voters and other voters increased after the attack. Overall, Norwegians have become less satisfied with policies on security-related issues. Even in a country where politicians responded to the crisis with an appeal to togetherness and common values, citizens’ attitudes on security policies were politicized.