Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada

by Jez Littlewood (Editor), Lorne Dawson (Editor), Sara K Thompson (Editor)

Through close analysis of the Canadian context, Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada provides an advanced introduction to the challenges and social consequences presented by terrorism today. Featuring contributions from both established and emerging scholars, it tackles key issues within this fraught area and does so from multiple disciplinary perspectives, using historical, quantitative, and qualitative lenses of analyses to reach novel and much-needed insights. Throughout the volume, the editors and contributors cover topics such as the foreign fighter problem, far-right extremism, the role of the internet in fostering global violence, and the media’s role in framing the discourse on terrorism in Canada. Also included are essays that look at the struggles to develop specific counter-terrorism policies and practices in the face of these threats. In addition to offering a detailed primer for scholars, policymakers, and concerned citizens, Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Canada confronts the social and legal consequences of mounting securitization for marginalized communities.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published February 4, 2020

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been an interesting read. Although it has not covered any specific section of national security, it does a cursory overlook of many issues in a way similar to what might be expected in a textbook. Each chapter is distinct with some chapters having more overlap than others, and the chapters are largely grouped in three sections: Terrorism; Security and Counter Terrorism; and Society, Terrorism and Counter Terrorism. The first section covers historical cases of terrorism in Canada; with each chapter usually involving a case study. Some of these case studies have included homegrown movements that are not discussed in the mainstream media space while others include Canadian involvement in international conflicts such as foreign fighters in Syria and Afghanistan. Although I do not find these chapters particularly gripping, they do create a great set-up for a well written and researched second part of the book.

In the second part of the book, over the course of a number of chapters, the authors code various trends with regards to terrorism in Canada. These have included over time, space, which groups conducted the most attacks and examines which means they go about doing so. This is where the real meat and bones of the book comes in. The various authors, each of whom have their field of expertise, shows in just how well researched and insightful some of these chapters can be. Two chapters that I enjoyed the most were Chapter 7, 8 and 9. Chapter 7 examined the correlation between Canada’s participation in the war against Terror and the claim that doing so made Canada more secure. Chapter 8 examined the social structures of online terrorist recruitment through websites and social media. This examination was fascinating, providing an examination of communities of terrorist groups, the purpose of their website and their express goal online. Chapter 9 enlightened how terrorist organizations acquire and use resources, and how Canada’s failure to stop it through the application of tools used in stopping money laundering. Overall, the second section of the book revived my interest, and helped me complete the book.

Overall I had a good time reading this one, I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about counterterrorism in general, and of course in the Canadian context.