Knowledge Bank

Much attention has focused since 9/11 on the risk that terrorist organizations might someday steal or purchase nuclear materials or weapons. Most scholars and policy makers assume that increasing the number of security forces at US, Russian, and other nuclear facilities should be part of our policy response to reduce such risks. In contrast, Sagan argues that adding redundancy to the nuclear security system can backfire by creating hidden common-mode failures, producing social shirking, and encouraging over-compensation. Better organizational practices, not more security forces, are the best route toward increased nuclear security in a dangerous world.