ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the challenges and threats of unprecedented scope, scale, and complexity faced by the world today. In recent decades, the world has seen many changes, not only because of the complexity of world affairs, but also because of the entrance of non-state actors into world politics. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons are a threat to the health and well-being of the international community. Given the real threat of a large-scale CBRN attack, defense against these weapons is both an international security and public health issue. In recent years, the goals and actions of non-state terrorists have changed, in a way that brings the use of CBRN weapons more within the realm of possibility, while technological advances have made the possibility of a CBRN attack more feasible than in decades and centuries past. Advances in science and technology have made the threat of a CBRN attack a distinct possibility. This paper seeks to provide an overview of terrorism as a whole, as well as aa assessment of current and future non-state actors and their use of CBRN weapons.
