Essay On Terrorism In Canada

Lest dealing with terrorism become a modern day Pandora’s box, Canada must remain cognizant of all the aforementioned complexities and must pursue an anti-terror strategy accordingly. This strategy must be 2-pronged, addressing the causes and the manifestations of domestic terrorism, while strengthening global governance to fight the terrorism globally. In regards to domestic policy, Canada must put an emphasis on addressing the underlying causes of terrorism- the social and the interpersonal factors that influence individuals to commit heinous acts of politicized violence. To this end, social inclusion and empowerment programs that seek to integrate the socially alienated and marginalized back into their communities, as well as providing them with opportunities, ought to be fostered by all levels of the Canadian

government. Though immigrants, refugees and Canada’s Muslim population are less susceptible to committing acts of terrorism than native-born, non-Muslim Canadians, special outreach to these communities is warranted due to the rise of anti-Islamic demagoguery in the Western world’s politics which threatens to isolate these groups from their communities and occasionally radicalize them against the Western world. Such outreach includes supporting Islamic groups that promote moderation and combat extremist narratives, prioritizing, as a federal, provincial and municipal policy, the denouncement of Islamophobic narratives, creating employment and educational opportunities, and increasing the presence of support worker who are trained to assist those dealing with mental illness, isolation and marginalization, and who can detect the warning signs of radicalization. Similar support must also be provided to those in other high risk populations such as high school/university students and the homeless. Other facets of Canada’s domestic anti-terrorism response should include supporting rehabilitation and re-education programs for those convicted of terrorism, understanding the powerful effects of indoctrination and other motivating societal and interpersonal factors, trying to provide terrorists with the ability to de-radicalize and become voices of moderation, fighting the extremist’s narratives with credible ethos. Extremist ideologies should also be publicly deconstructed, acknowledging and addressing the underlying grievances said radical views aim to redress, while vehemently denouncing any violence they promote. Through social integration programs, increased support for vulnerable populations, the promotion of rehabilitation and the acknowledgment of terrorist group’s underlying grievances, individuals in Canadian society will be less susceptible to radicalization. Community involvement and social support will lead to individual fostering less exploitable grievances- which under the status quo often arise from being isolated, marginalized, underprivileged and ignored- they will be more aware of the dangers of radicalization, and they will view others as people, undeserving of pain and violence, no matter how different they may be. While these solutions to eradicate the social and interpersonal motivators of terrorism in Canada will be incredibly effective, they nonetheless take time to implement and to reap success. As a short-term policy to ensure civilian security against imminent acts of terrorism, CSIS must expand and strengthen its domestic espionage programs, increasing the online surveillance of social media sites, infiltrating encrypted chatrooms and other terrorist communication media, while concurrently increasing undercover work in high risk areas. It is essential that this expansion of espionage is governed by strict regulations, CSIS conduct falling under the purview of the judicial branch, to be publicly reviewed ex post facto to ensure accountability. Moreover, bill C-51 must be amended as to ensure that actual intervention against terrorists must be the responsibility of solely law enforcement, and that preventative detention may only be employed against those who will commit acts of terrorism, rather against those who might commit such acts. Though libertarians may be aggrieved by such actions, mischaracterizing them as violations of personal freedoms (though no charter rights are infringed upon), they are a necessary evil in the asymmetrical fight against the devastating effects of terrorism. Heavily regulated, and independently overseen espionage is a superior alternative to other methods of controlling domestic terrorism such as immigration bans or national identity cards which more directly infringe upon civil rights and individual liberties.

Additionally, early intervention for suspected terrorists must be enacted, for those that are suspected of having a motive and the means to commit acts of terrorism, intervention through involvement in community groups, mandatory therapy and rehabilitation must occur, as well an increase in surveillance over such individuals.  Though the Canadian government’s mandate is to prioritize the protection of Canadian citizens, terrorism, by its very nature, is not a problem that can be solved by solely domestic efforts. Radical ideologies transcend borders and inspire acts of terror internationally, terrorist organizations are decentralized and can manifest themselves anywhere. Hence, Canada must also have a global anti-terrorism agenda, one that is multilaterally sanctioned by bodies of international governance, and that

prioritizes addressing the root causes of terrorism. Accordingly, Canada must support and strengthen international institutions and venues for international cooperation, the United Nations in particular. The importance of strengthening these institutions cannot be overstated, the globalized nature of terrorism means that international cooperation and information sharing is integral to stopping terrorist organizations and the security threat that their attacks pose to a country’s national interest. Furthermore, dealing with globalized terrorism multilaterally helps to delegitimize a key component of the terrorist narrative; that the West’s unilateral actions, and disproportionate responses to threats, are tantamount to new-age imperialism. Terrorists derive power from being in control of local narratives, able to manipulate public perception against the dominant groups and use their asymmetrical power dynamic as a way of strengthening their extremist ideologies and to promulgate their violent ambitions. If the United Nations is the organization that authorizes any actions which may engender exploitable grievances, such as direct and indict military interventions, or the imposition of sanctions, and if said actions are approved by local and regional actors, terrorists’ narratives have less credence and thus, less deleterious impacts. To further this narrative fight by combatting claims that the West dominates the United Nation’s agenda, Canada must encourage UNSC reform, pushing for policies that increase the number of votes in the general assembly for the actors most affected by a proposed resolution, to reflect their increased investment in such issues. Canada must also support conventions regulating the usage of drone strikes, limiting them to situations where there is little chances of civilian casualties, where there is consent from regional actors, and when there is an imminent, verified threat that can not be dealt with in any other fashion. Furthermore, Canada ought to support initiatives by the United Nations and other developmental organizations to address the underlying causes of radicalization, such as poverty and inequality, through education/empowerment initiatives. This 2-pronged counter-terrorism strategy addresses the underlying factors motivating an individual to commit acts of terror, both domestically and globally. It is pragmatic and principled, promoting social integration and improving domestic security while respecting fundamental rights and liberties at home, while waging a global war of narratives, delegitimizing terror organization’s anti-Western rhetoric, and supporting poverty alleviation and educational opportunities abroad. Pursuing this strategy will not only lead to a safer and more inclusive Canada, but also to a holistically better world.