Violent religious extremism is a global concern today. As governments prepare their counter-terrorism policies, many focus solely on reactive measures such as military action and surveillance measures – hard power – that are responsive to individuals who are already radicalized. This paper argues that education should be incorporated into such policies as a preventive measure that not only makes students resilient citizens but can also address the psychological, emotional and intellectual appeal of narratives – soft power – that terrorists purport. In doing so, states can counter soft power with the use of soft power in a concerted effort among government departments, social institutions and communities. Our paper clarifies the complexities among fundamentalism, extremism, radicalism and terrorism, and summarizes a variety of push and pull factors that trigger radicalization; it offers as well specific pedagogical recommendations for the Canadian educational system to consider.