Relax, there is no evidence of Canadian radicalization

Re: Not The Time To ‘Commit Sociology’: PM, April 26.

It is rare that the word “sociology” is part of public discourse and debate, and it is even rarer that a prime minister uses it in public. It is refreshing to hear about sociology, but Stephen Harper’s comments also show that sociology — as an academic discipline — needs to be better understood by the media and the wider public.

As a sociologist who has worked on terrorism and radicalization processes, I can only concur with the idea formulated by the Prime Minister about the dangers of linking specific terrorist incidents and larger sociological issues. The alleged terrorist plot thwarted by our security services a few days ago is just that — an alleged plot of a few to use violence for political purposes, and who may have had some support from outside Canada. Yet, it is unsound from a social sciences’ perspective to use local or tactical events and try to extrapolate them into sociological or strategic comments.

Sociology is concerned, primarily, with large groups’ dynamics, such as radicalization, not specific individual events such as specific terrorists’ actions. History has shown that there are individuals in Canada willing to commit acts of political violence from timeto-time, but it has not shown any significant signs of social-level radicalization processes.

Eric Ouellet, military sociologist, Toronto.

IAN WILLMS / GETTY IMAGES People can still ride the train without worrying, a military expert says.