Creating an Enemy: Social Militarization in the War on Terror

Abstract

One of the most prominent effects of social militarization is hostility toward anyone of the same nationality as the enemy. This is common in conventional wars, but has become even more pronounced in the War on Terror, as the enemy is hidden in the civilian population. Western fear of Muslims was common before this war, but has escalated since. Muslims are portrayed as a monolithic group that is intrinsically hostile to the west. The war narrative legitimizes xenophobia by associating individual actions with all members of a group, and for that reason, it is potentially dangerous to Canadian multiculturalism.