Nuclear terrorism: what can we learn from South Africa's development of nuclear devices?. Issue 2 (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Volders, Brecht
• Is Part Of: Dynamics of asymmetric conflict. Volume 12:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 129
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: Nuclear terrorism -- terrorism -- nuclear security -- South Africa; Asymmetric warfare -- Periodicals; Genocide -- Periodicals; Terrorism -- Periodicals; Asymmetric warfare; Genocide; Terrorism; Periodicals; 355.02
• DOI: 10.1080/17467586.2019.1576917
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-7586

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Traditional assessments of nuclear terrorism threats primarily focus on the motivation of terrorist organizations to go nuclear, the availability of know-how, and the opportunities to obtain fissile material. The organizational challenges of implementing the construction and detonation of an improvised nuclear device are not often systematically explored. To contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the threat, this article aims to study South Africa's Peaceful Nuclear Explosives programme to verify and further refine the idea of an effectiveness-efficiency trade-off for terrorist organizations pursuing a nuclear terrorism plot.