If You Cannot Beat Them, Why Not Have Them Join Up?

This paper explores the plausibility of a rather novel solution to the problem of domestic terrorist threats: might the risk posed by individuals from communities that are thought to be prone to acts of political violence and terrorism be mitigated by recruiting to the military members of communities that public and political discourse has deemed a fifth pillar? The military presents a stable, well-paying career to individuals marginalized by their ethno-religious identity that have to this point been grossly under-represented in the Canadian Armed Forces. It can also bring members of these communities into a closer relationship with the state and mainstream society that will foster allegiance, combat alienation, and stifle the desire to commit violence against Canada and its citizens. Two implications follow for the Canadian Armed Forces from the explanation of the Toronto 18 as a non-peaceful node of an identity-based network. One is that the institution should be cautious not to fall into the trap of a populist vernacular reification of identity that might inadvertently further the community’s collective alienation by overtly appealing to “Arabs” or “Muslims”. The other is that the military may do well to focus on the equality of treatment within their institution rather than material benefits when attempting to extend an olive branch to Canada’s marginalized communities, instead making an emotional appeal based on the common good.