Sociological Theory and Reactions to 9/11

The terrorist attack on the United States that took place on September 11, 2001 spurred immediate and prolonged reactions on the part of the American public and government leaders. In this brief essay, two of these reactions will be analyzed in the context of specific theories focused on social integration, cohesion, and stability. It will be argued that this traumatic event resulted in a remarkable degree of ideological integration and cohesion at both governmental and public levels, fostering a unified response to the attack that took the form of demonstrations of solidarity among the…