The Relationship between University Students’ Perceptions of Terrorism and Academic Specializations

Abstract

By conducting a set of quantitative surveys, this study aimed to detecting the correlation between Jordanian University students’ perceptions of terrorism and a variety of demographic variables. The results revealed that the majority of students viewed terrorism as the most heinous crime, and is never justified, and that terrorists are hard-core criminals, separatist groups that want to weaken the unity of the country. Therefore, they should be treated as traitors and punished as they pose a threat to national interest, and the safety and security of citizens. While a few of student indicated that there are some terrorist activities’ as a repercussion of repressed needs and the demands of society, it should however be managed and the violations committed by states against their nationals be confronted with the aim of eliminating injustices to vulnerable citizens. Most students believe that poverty and material deprivation are of the most prominent causes of terrorism. They also stress the necessity of providing food security and optimal life for citizens to limit the spread of the phenomenon of terrorism and achieve societal solidarity to save human lives and stability of communities. Furthermore, the results confirmed that there are no academic specializations, age, sex, academic level, and monthly income statistically significant differences in perceptions of the terrorism among university students. Received: 8 April 2021 / Accepted: 5 June 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021