Combating Nuclear Terrorism: Addressing Nonstate Actor Motivations

Abstract

Yesterday’s nonproliferation efforts were successful, in part, because they addressed the motives of aspiring state proliferants. Today’s efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism should take a similar approach. Understanding—and addressing—the motivations of nonstate actors should be as important as locking down nuclear weapons and materials. The international community has a variety of tools at its disposal for addressing the demand for nuclear weapons. This article suggests a multifaceted approach for understanding, and reducing, the nuclear ambitions of nonstate actors.