Book Review: Stephen M. Maurer (ed.), WMD Terrorism: Science and Policy Choices (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2009, 608 pp., £28.95 pbk)
| Author | Michelle Bentley |
| Published date | 01 September 2011 |
| Date | 01 September 2011 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/03058298110400011211 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
204 Millennium: Journal of International Studies 40(1)
Stephen M. Maurer (ed.), WMD Terrorism: Science and Policy Choices (Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press, 2009, 608 pp., £28.95 pbk).
The question as to whether terrorists will employ weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is
a highly complex one in that the capacity of non-state actors is unclear. Within this con-
text, the edited volume does not seek to provide an answer, but aims to provide some
clarification to the difficult debate. It recognises that there are serious problems relating
to the current discourse on WMD terrorism: there is a lack of concrete evidence; different
disciplines talk past each other; there is a tendency to fall back on worst-case scenarios of
WMD use (which may more closely resemble Hollywood disasters than reasoned under-
standing); and that many analysts and policymakers remain stuck in a Cold War mindset
characterised by perceptions of abipolar nuclear arms race and global annihilation as
opposed to unconventional non-state attack. In response, this book attempts to overcome
this confusion through an inherently scientific and factual account of the threat. By clari-
fying what we know about WMD terrorism, we can start moving the debate forward.
Consisting of 18 chapters, this book starts by describing the chemical, biological,
radiological and nuclear (CBRN) technologies involved in the construction, delivery and
impact of WMD. Specifically, this is discussed within the wider issue of whether terror-
ists are capable of successfully exploiting these technologies. On the one hand, it is
argued that terrorists will employ WMD where such weapons constitute the most effec-
tive means of realising operational aims to cause mass fatalities and/or extreme psycho-
logical effect. On the other hand, terrorists are precluded from WMD use where this may:
detrimentally impact upon opportunities for negotiation with established authorities;
directly threaten a terrorist’s supporting constituency and homeland; incite massive ret-
ribution by the target; and be beyond the technical and financial ability of terrorists.
The book then considers how this plays into issues of prevention. After outlining a
number of preventative measures (such as securing US borders and ports), these are
discussed within the context of risk assessment. Chapter 7 by Thomas Edmunds and
Richard Wheeler sets this up as a question of priorities. The US cannot afford to imple-
ment every single form of protection available to it; this is simply not a feasible option
given restricted resources (p. 91). In response, Edmunds and Wheeler critically assess a
range of quantitative methods for calculating the cost-effectiveness of different modes of
prevention. This is followed by another interesting chapter by Eugene Bardach, which
discusses whether political institutions have sufficient capacity to adapt to the new
pressures of WMD terrorism. It is concluded that there are significant problems with the
structure and ‘adaptive capacity’ of current institutions to address the threat (p. 245).
Specifically, in identifying a number of issues with the US’s current response, this and
many of the other chapters in this book seek to make recommendations as to how future
strategies should be coordinated. Indeed, a major asset of this volume is the detailed
nature of these proposals.
Effectively, this book is intended as a comprehensive guide to WMD terrorism,
although there are a few areas in which it could be strengthened. For example, there is
relatively little discussion on the dynamics of motivation. Whilst operational desires to
cause extreme destruction are addressed and there is a brief mention of the influence of
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