Canada’s Double Standard: How Hegemony, Fear and Post 9/11 Understandings of Security Inform our Perceptions of Who is Deemed ‘Terrorist’

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 brought the reality of terrorism experienced throughout the Middle East to Western shores. The binaries of 'us' and 'them' were solidified through hegemonic narratives meant to stabilize the country, ensuring that only one type of terrorist, the 'brown' terrorist, is visible. These narratives presented the attacks as a new 'exceptional' threat, painting the world as a much riskier place which mobilized security in different ways. The emphasis on national security in the post 9/11 environment ensures that particular threats ('brown' terrorists) are prioritized, enabling more serious threats to persist while remaining hidden ('white' terrorists). This thesis analyses the differing responses and narratives from the government, media, and experts regarding right-wing extremists and the refugees aboard the MV Sun Sea. Theories of hegemony, fear, and security are drawn upon to explain why, and how, one group is redeemable while the other is condemned.