This qualitative study examines Terrorism Preparedness in high-threat urban environments using the Risk Perception Theory (RPT) to bridge the gap between official security mandates and citizen experience. Through in-depth interviews (n=15) with community stakeholders, the research paper maps subjective vulnerability onto RPT's psychometric constructs. Findings reveal a profound functional shift: Dread Risk has metastasized into a chronic anticipation; Institutional Trust has collapsed into systemic suspicion; and Perceived Control is displaced by individualised hyper-vigilance. Crucially, the study identifies Economically-Forced Involuntary Risk, demonstrating that socio-economic imperatives dictate risk acceptance, challenging RPT's voluntariness assumption. The conclusion advocates for an Outrage Management governance paradigm that prioritises restoring epistemic trust and facilitating collective efficacy over mere compliance.
Aven, T., & Renn, O. (2009). On the quantitative definition of risk and its use in a risk-informed decision process. Safety Science, 47(3), 407–421. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2008.08.003]
Beck, U. (1992). Risk society: Towards a new modernity. Sage Publications.
Chauvin, S., & Giumelli, F. (2017). Localizing security: State legitimacy and counter-terrorism in the Sahel. African Security, 10(1), 1–23. [DOI: 10.1080/19392206.2017.1350438]
Covello, V. T. (2003). The role of scientific data in risk communication and policy decision making: An overview of the literature. Risk Analysis, 23(6), 1399–1414. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2003.00392.x]
Dake, K. (1991). Orienting dispositions in the perception of risk: An analysis of contemporary worldviews and cultural biases. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 22(1), 61–82. [DOI: 10.1177/0022022191221004]
Douglas, M., & Wildavsky, A. (1982). Risk and culture: An essay on the selection of technological and environmental dangers. University of California Press.
Fattah, E. A. (1991). Understanding and managing fear of crime. University of Minnesota Press.
Fischhoff, B., Slovic, P., Lichtenstein, S., Read, S., & Combs, B. (1978). How safe is safe enough? A psychometric study of attitudes towards technological risks and benefits. Policy Sciences, 9(3), 127–152. [DOI: 10.1007/BF00143891]
Flynn, J., Slovic, P., & Kunreuther, H. (Eds.). (2001). Risk, media, and stigma: Understanding public challenges to modern science and technology. Earthscan Publications.
Gasper, J. (2011). Cultural theory and security: Mapping worldviews to preparedness. Security Studies, 20(4), 589–618. [DOI: 10.1080/09636412.2011.625345]
Jenkins, B. M. (2010). The long shadow of 9/11: America's response to terrorism. RAND Corporation.
Johnston, L. (2017). Crime, fear and the politics of urban security. Theoretical Criminology, 21(4), 500–518. [DOI: 10.1177/1362480617730990]
Kasperson, R. E., Renn, O., Slovic, P., Brown, H. S., Emel, J., Goble, R., Kasperson, J. X., & Ratick, S. (1988). The social amplification of risk: A conceptual framework. Risk Analysis, 8(2), 177–187. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1988.tb01168.x]
Lichtenstein, S., Slovic, P., Fischhoff, B., Layman, M., & Combs, B. (1978). Judged frequency of lethal events. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 4(6), 551–578. [DOI: 10.1037/0278-7393.4.6.551]
Loader, I., & Walker, N. (2007). Civilizing security: Toward a democratic theory of police and policing. Cambridge University Press.
Miller, D. (2003). The communicative challenge of terrorism risk. Risk Management, 5(2), 5–18. [DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.rm.8240141]
Okumu, W., & Wafula, P. (2009). The dynamics of terrorism and counter-terrorism in East Africa. Journal of Conflict, Security and Development, 9(3), 441–462. [DOI: 10.1080/14678800903332717]
Paton, D. (2008). Risk communication and natural hazard management. Risk Analysis, 28(3), 743–757. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01041.x]
Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (2001). Disasters and communities: Vulnerability, resilience and preparedness. Disaster Prevention and Management, 10(4), 270–277. [DOI: 10.1108/EUM0000000005930]
Perry, R. W., & Lindell, M. K. (2003). Preparedness for emergency response: Guidelines for the emergency planning process. Disasters, 27(4), 337–350. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0361-3666.2003.00232.x]
Peters, H. P., & Covello, V. T. (Eds.). (2000). Public perception of risk and risk communication. Springer.
Pidgeon, N. (1998). The social amplification of risk: Reflections on a framework. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 59(1-2), 189–199. [DOI: 10.1016/S0951-8320(97)00120-3]
Renn, O. (2008). Concepts of risk: A classification. In O. Renn (Ed.), Risk governance: Coping with uncertainty in a complex world (pp. 53–120). Earthscan.
Rhodes, J. (2010). Manufacturing moral panic: Media construction of the terrorism threat and policy implications. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 33(6), 499–518. [DOI: 10.1080/10576101003761750]
Sampson, R. J. (2012). Great American city: Chicago and the enduring neighborhood effect. University of Chicago Press.
Sandman, P. M. (1993). Responding to community outrage: Strategies for effective risk communication. American Industrial Hygiene Association.
Siegrist, M., & Cvetkovich, G. (2000). Perception of risks: The influence of trust and control. Risk Analysis, 20(5), 713–720. [DOI: 10.1111/0272-4332.205640]
Slovic, P. (2000). The perception of risk. Earthscan Publications.
Slovic, P., Finucane, M. L., Peters, E., & MacGregor, D. G. (2004). Risk as analysis and risk as feeling: Some thoughts about affect, reason, risk, and rationality. Risk Analysis, 24(2), 311–322. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0272-4332.2004.00433.x]
Tullis, S. (2013). The boomerang effect: When security communication increases public anxiety. Journal of Risk Research, 16(10), 1269–1285. [DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2013.801645]
Versi, A. (2019). Kenya unbowed: Responding to radicalization and terror. New African.
Wachira, K. (2012). Terrorism and the politics of security in Kenya. Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, 7(3), 52–67. [DOI: 10.1080/15423166.2012.723955]
Wahlberg, A. M., & Sjoberg, L. (2000). Risk perception and the media. Journal of Risk Research, 3(1), 31–50. [DOI: 10.1080/136698700375086]