ABSTRACT

This volume aims to improve understanding of nuclear security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism.

Nuclear terrorism is perceived as one of the most immediate and extreme threats to global security today. While the international community has made important progress in securing fissile material, there are still important steps to be made with nearly 2,000 metric tons of weapons-usable nuclear material spread around the globe. The volume addresses this complex phenomenon through an interdisciplinary approach: legal, criminal, technical, diplomatic, cultural, economic, and political. Despite this cross-disciplinary approach, however, the chapters are all linked by the overarching aim of enhancing knowledge of nuclear security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism. The volume aims to do this by investigating the different types of nuclear terrorism, and subsequently discussing the potential means to prevent these malicious acts. In addition, there is a discussion of the nuclear security regime, in general, and an important examination of both its strengths and weaknesses. In summary, the book aims to extend the societal and political debate about the threat of nuclear terrorism.

This book will be of much interest to students of nuclear proliferation, nuclear governance, terrorism studies, international organizations, and security studies in general.

part I|54 pages

Nuclear terrorism

chapter 1|9 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|14 pages

The nuclear threat

A two-level analytical framework to assess the likelihood of nuclear terrorism

chapter 3|29 pages

Internal dynamics of a terrorist entity acquiring biological and chemical weapons

Insights for the study of possible nuclear weapon acquisition

part III|48 pages

Preventing attacks on nuclear facilities

chapter 7|31 pages

Attacking nuclear facilities

Hype or genuine threat?

chapter 8|15 pages

Nuclear security in Belgium

Evolution and prospects 1

part IV|38 pages

Preventing the detonation of a crude nuclear device

chapter 9|23 pages

Searching for the nuclear silk road

Geospatial analysis of potential illicit radiological and nuclear material trafficking pathways 1

chapter 10|13 pages

Securing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal

The threat from within 1

part V|54 pages

Nuclear security governance and culture

chapter 11|18 pages

Nuclear security culture

From concept to practice

chapter 12|17 pages

Nuclear security commitment making

Results of the summit process

chapter 14|8 pages

Conclusion

Nuclear terrorism – countering the threat