Mackenzie Institute
Encyclopedia
The Mackenzie Institute for the Study of Terrorism, Revolution and Propaganda is a think tank
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Founded in 1986 by Brigadier Dr. Maurice Tugwell, a former Parachute Regiment officer and British Army veteran of WW-2, Palestine (1947), the Malayian insurgency, Cyprus and Ulster. The institute is a non-profit organization that depends upon individual donors and charitable foundations; it does not accept government funding. The institute publishes online research papers on a wide variety of political matters, with a focus on terrorism
, political extremism, warfare, and organized crime
. Its mission is to "provide research and commentary on its subject matter, to promote informed public debate, and to hold to the proposition that our liberal democratic tradition must be safeguarded and fostered" It is also "concerned with the social and political stability of Canada, and works to enhance it when it can". The institute is named after Canadian explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Its current executive director, John C. Thompson, often appears as a television contributor on terrorism and military issues.
In July 1995, members of the Animal Liberation Front
allegedly sent a pipe bomb to Thompson's office in Toronto. His assistant could have been killed, except that the device's battery had become disconnected through mishandling by Canada Post.
Several newspaper reports have described the institute as a conservative or right-wing organization. In 1994, journalist Michael Valpy
criticized the institute for producing what he described as an ideologically-driven report of supposed "leftist conspiracies". Thompson has repeatedly rejected such descriptions, describing himself as a "classical liberal". He has written, "if being a traditional liberal these days means being condemned as a right-wing nut, I plead guilty".
In 2005, the institute released a report entitled "Waiting for the Kaboom: Indicators to Watch for", described as a citizen's guide to finding terrorists. In this report, John C. Thompson encouraged Canadians to watch for theft of credentials and credit cards, attempts to buy weapons in bulk, increased visits to access tunnels under office towers, and large groups of men living together "for no apparent purpose". He also warned Canadians about people wearing bulky clothing in hot weather, arguing that suicide bombers sometimes wear several sets of underwear to protect their groins for the virgins they believe martyrs receive in the afterlife. These guidelines were welcomed by some law enforcement groups, but were also met with some criticism. Canada's Public Safety
ministry declined to comment on the release. The Mackenzie Institute later issued a revised version of the report, under the new title "Precursors of Hostile Intent: Signs of a Potential Terrorist Attack".
The Mackenzie Institute makes frequent comments on Canada's military mission in Afghanistan
, and supports increased funding for the Canadian military generally.
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 1986 by Brigadier Dr. Maurice Tugwell, a former Parachute Regiment officer and British Army veteran of WW-2, Palestine (1947), the Malayian insurgency, Cyprus and Ulster. The institute is a non-profit organization that depends upon individual donors and charitable foundations; it does not accept government funding. The institute publishes online research papers on a wide variety of political matters, with a focus on terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, political extremism, warfare, and organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. Its mission is to "provide research and commentary on its subject matter, to promote informed public debate, and to hold to the proposition that our liberal democratic tradition must be safeguarded and fostered" It is also "concerned with the social and political stability of Canada, and works to enhance it when it can". The institute is named after Canadian explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Its current executive director, John C. Thompson, often appears as a television contributor on terrorism and military issues.
In July 1995, members of the Animal Liberation Front
Animal Liberation Front
The Animal Liberation Front is an international, underground leaderless resistance that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal liberation...
allegedly sent a pipe bomb to Thompson's office in Toronto. His assistant could have been killed, except that the device's battery had become disconnected through mishandling by Canada Post.
Several newspaper reports have described the institute as a conservative or right-wing organization. In 1994, journalist Michael Valpy
Michael Valpy
Michael Granville Valpy is an award-winning Canadian journalist and author. He writes for the Globe and Mail newspaper where he made his reputation on both political and human interest stories...
criticized the institute for producing what he described as an ideologically-driven report of supposed "leftist conspiracies". Thompson has repeatedly rejected such descriptions, describing himself as a "classical liberal". He has written, "if being a traditional liberal these days means being condemned as a right-wing nut, I plead guilty".
In 2005, the institute released a report entitled "Waiting for the Kaboom: Indicators to Watch for", described as a citizen's guide to finding terrorists. In this report, John C. Thompson encouraged Canadians to watch for theft of credentials and credit cards, attempts to buy weapons in bulk, increased visits to access tunnels under office towers, and large groups of men living together "for no apparent purpose". He also warned Canadians about people wearing bulky clothing in hot weather, arguing that suicide bombers sometimes wear several sets of underwear to protect their groins for the virgins they believe martyrs receive in the afterlife. These guidelines were welcomed by some law enforcement groups, but were also met with some criticism. Canada's Public Safety
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Canada)
The Minister of Public Safety is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's domestic security department, Public Safety Canada...
ministry declined to comment on the release. The Mackenzie Institute later issued a revised version of the report, under the new title "Precursors of Hostile Intent: Signs of a Potential Terrorist Attack".
The Mackenzie Institute makes frequent comments on Canada's military mission in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and supports increased funding for the Canadian military generally.