THE SURVEILLANCE STATE: THE ORIGINS OF DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE AND COUNTER-SUBVERSION IN CANADA, 1914-21

In: Intelligence and national security, Band 7, Heft 3, S. 179-210

Abstract

THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF HISTORICAL SCHOLARSHIP ON THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (RCMP) AND ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY, THE CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (CSIS). HOWEVER, RECENT LAWS HAVE ENABLED SCHOLARS TO ACCESS PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT. THIS ARTICLE ARGUES THAT THE TIME HAS ARRIVED FOR A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE ORIGINS OF THE RCMP, ESPECIALLY IN ITS SECURITY SERVICE, AND FOR A RECONSIDERATION OF THE ROLE THE CANADIAN STATE HAS PLAYED IN THE AREA OF SURVEILLANCE AND COUNTER-SUBVERSION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BIRTH OF THE NEW RCMP AND THE CANADIAN LABOR REVOLT.