Terrorism and global security: the nuclear threat

The enormous potential for destruction that lies latent in nuclear technology inevitably gives rise to the possibility of nuclear terrorism--the use of nuclear explosives or radioactivity by insurgent groups. Professor Beres considers the factors that might foster such terrorism, the forms it might take, and the probable consequences of each form. He then identifies a coherent strategy of counternuclear terrorism, one that embraces both technological and behavioral measures, that suggests policies for deterrence and situation management on both national and international levels, and that points toward a major refashioning of world order.

Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Part 1 Understanding Nuclear Terrorism -- 1. The Specter of Nuclear Terrorism: An Overview -- A Surrealist System: The Terrorist as Microcosm -- Facing the Gorgon Head: The Nature of Modern Terrorism -- Origins and Regularities -- 2. The Etiology of Nuclear Terrorism: Five Harbingers -- Terrorist Access to Nuclear Weapons -- Terrorist Inclinations to Nuclear Violence -- Terrorist Insensitivity to Orthodox Deterrence -- Interterrorist Cooperation -- Tolerance and Support of Terrorism -- 3. Nuclear Terrorism: Forms and Effects -- Nuclear Explosives -- Radiological Weapons -- Nuclear Reactor Sabotage -- Nuclear Terrorism and Nuclear War -- Nuclear War Between the Superpowers -- Worldwide Nuclear War -- Other Forms of Nuclear War -- Part 2 Preventing Nuclear Terrorism -- Introduction -- 4. Hardening the Target: Physical Security and Nonproliferation -- Preventing Nuclear Terrorism Through Improved Physical Security -- Preventing Nuclear Terrorism Through Nonproliferation -- Nonproliferation and International Political Power -- 5. Softening the Adversary: Behavioral Strategies -- Examples of the Theory -- The Problem of Civil Liberties -- The Decision-Making Taxonomy -- The Six Principal Types of Terrorist Groups -- Behavioral Measures at the International Level -- Additional Measures Under International Law -- 6. Redefining National Interests: Planetization and Freedom from Nuclear Terrorism -- Dimensions for the Design of Alternative World Futures -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Index.