What happens when terrorism is no longer driven by an organized group, a formal hierarchy, or a clearly defined ideology—but by a single individual acting alone? In Canada, so-called “lone wolf” terrorism has become one of the most difficult and misunderstood forms of political violence to define and confront. Today we are going to explore the history of lone actor terrorism in Canada, tracing its roots through the twentieth century and examining how its motivations and characteristics have evolved in the twenty-first. What drives an individual to commit an act of terrorism? How important are religion, ideology, and gender? And what can some of Canada’s most significant lone-actor attacks tell us about the changing nature of terrorism? But perhaps the most troubling question is what happens when there is no organization to infiltrate, no leader to identify, and no conspiracy to uncover. How do you stop someone who may have no accomplices, no obvious network, and no warning that they are about to act? And as we look at the history of lone actor terrorism in Canada, we may discover that the greatest challenge isn't understanding what happened—but recognizing what might happen next.
Joining us today is Professor Steven Hewitt. Steve Hewitt is Associate Professor of North American history at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He has published extensively around topics related to security and intelligence, including terrorism and counter-terrorism in the past and present. His new book, A History of Terrorism in Canada, will be published by McGill-Queen’s University Press in October.
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