Radicalization in Canada: understanding and conceptualizing the motivations behind the October 2014 attacks

Abstract

In October 2014, Canada witnessed two separate homegrown attacks in the span
of two days, which left questions on why these Canadian citizens became violently
radicalized. The purpose of this analysis is to determine what motivated the two
homegrown attacks and to investigate if the political discourse surrounding the events
understands the causes to address its grievances. By employing discourse analysis and
contextual variables to case studies, this study found that political officials were
oversimplifying the motivations behind the attacks. They excluded the variables at the
individual level. From the data examined, this analysis recommends that greater emphasis
be put into managing radicalized individuals through prevention programs as terrorism
becomes increasingly more sophisticated.