Mackenzie Institute

The Mackenzie Institute for the Study of Terrorism, Revolution and Propaganda is a think tank in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1986 by Brigadier Dr. Maurice Tugwell, a former Parachute Regiment officer and British Army veteran of WWII, Mandatory Palestine (1947), the Malaysian 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 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 explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Its former presidents, John C. Thompson and Alan Bell, often appear as television contributors on terrorism and security 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 used to make frequent comments on Canada's military mission in Afghanistan, and supports increased funding for the Canadian military generally.