Nuclear Terrorism Threat: An Organisational Approach

This book examines the threat of a terrorist organization constructing and detonating a nuclear bomb and explores the role and impact of the organizational design of a terrorist organization in implementing a nuclear terrorism plot. It introduces the idea of an effectiveness-efficiency trade-off and suggests that a more organic organizational design is likely to benefit the effective implementation of a nuclear terrorism project but is also likely to be an inefficient way for a terrorist organization to guarantee its operational and organizational security.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 09 July 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the grave threat posed by a terrorist organization acquiring and detonating a nuclear bomb. It explores the crucial role and profound impact of the organizational structure of a terrorist group in executing a nuclear terrorism plot. To accomplish this, the book builds upon an organizational analogy between an assumed nuclear terrorism scenario and four case studies: the development of the first atomic bombs at Los Alamos, South Africa's Peaceful Nuclear Explosives (PNE) program, Aum Shinrikyo's chemical-biological armament activities, and Al Qaeda's implementation of the 9/11 attacks. By extrapolating insights from these case studies, the book introduces the concept of an effectiveness-efficiency trade-off. On the one hand, it is argued that a more organic organizational design is likely to enhance the successful implementation of a nuclear terrorism project. On the other hand, this type of organic organizational design simultaneously constitutes an inefficient means for a terrorist organization to ensure its operational and organizational security. Consequently, the implementation of a nuclear terrorism plot through an organic organizational design is also likely to be an ineffective strategy for a terrorist organization to achieve its strategic and political objectives. This notion of an effectiveness-efficiency trade-off serves as a valuable tool to strengthen the comprehensive nature of future nuclear terrorism threat assessments and sheds new light on the ongoing debates within the nuclear terrorism literature.

This book holds particular relevance for students specializing in nuclear proliferation, terrorism studies, international organizations, and security studies in general.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 161 x 243 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367711436