Name:       Course: Professor: Institution: City and State: Date:                 Table of Contents 1.    Introduction. 3 2.    Weapons of mass destruction. 3 2.1 Counter-proliferation activities. 3 2.2 Non-proliferation activities. 4 2.3 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. 6 2.4 Combating nuclear terrorism.. 6 3.    Bombings and terrorism.. 8 3.1 Improvised explosive devices. 9 3.2 Use of internet in bombings reduction. 10 3.3 International cooperation. 11 3.3.1 Establishment of universal instruments related to cyber-crime. 13 3.3.2 Sharing of data. 14 4.    Global climate. 14 4.1 Nuclear weapons. 15 4.2 Chemical and heat-producing weapons. 16 5.    Conclusion. 17  

1.      Introduction

In the article titled, de-territorialized threats and global politics: geopolitics and risk society, Tuathail (1998) suggests that with globalization, more cooperation is needed among member states to deal with various security and environmental issues.  Aware of the transnational dangers resulting from the quidity of borders, nations have been forced to adopt a common front towards curbing terrorism, environmental degradation, ethnic nationalism, and other security challenges. This paper examines ways in which destructive technologies will lead to greater international cooperation.

2.      Weapons of mass destruction

In the past few decades, the possibility for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has become a reality. The term weapons of mass destruction have become a common security discourse and it has been existence since 1940s (Nash, 1975). The term was heavily used during the clod war era and later on during the 2003 Iraq invasion. It is used to describe the atomic explosive, radioactive, biological and chemical weapons, which have a destructive effect.

2.1 Counter-proliferation activities

It requires international partnerships to prevent proliferation of destructive weapons to hostile states. One of counter-proliferation components being used by the major actors is the deterrence through deployment of military forces and declaratory policies. In addition, the main actors have enhanced their intelligence, surveillance and domestic law enforcement capabilities to enhance detection of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The proliferation of the WMD is also being prevented through coalitions. The purpose of these coalitions is to prevent the transfer and transportation of the WMD-related goods (Pitt, 2002). Another major approach being used is the implementation of the export controls to ensure hostile countries do not acquire WMD. The cooperation between various countries has led to the establishment of the Proliferation Security Initiative. More than 80 countries are committed to the initiative, and so far it has proved successful in the interdiction of equipment related to missile and nuclear activities (Bentley, 2013). However, the implementation of the initiative requires greater cooperation from all countries and more commitment to enforce the national and international laws. International cooperation will also be required in the expansion of the initiative for interdiction of the financial payments between the proliferators and the suppliers. Indeed, according to Bentley (2013) disruption of the financial flows between the proliferators and the supplier countries is one of the strategies that have proved effective. However, to achieve this objective there is need for more coordination between security and financial agencies in a global level. Some of the measures that could be used to disrupt the financial flow include travel bans and freezing of the proliferators’ assets. Another strategy being used is the use of sanctions. Sanctions are already being applied in Iran, to prevent the country from possessing nuclear weapons. The sanctions have affected business and other economic sectors in the country, and have been effective in forcing the Tehran regime to cease the nuclear program. However, for the sanctions to work, international cooperation will play a key role, not only in Iran but other hostile states.

2.2 Non-proliferation activities

The main actors are committed to using diplomatic approach to achieve their non-proliferation goals. In this regard, there is a growing consensus to prevent the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction by inducing the proliferant states to end their WMD programs. To prevent acquisition of WMD by hostile countries, a number of treaties have also been formed including the Non-proliferation of the Nuclear Weapons treaty. The aim of the treaty is to reverse the spread of the military nuclear capabilities and impede the possession of nuclear weapons outsides the NPT. Multilateral regimes such as the International Atomic Energy Agency have also been formed to regulate the acquisition of the WMD and monitor nuclear-related activities. However, for the agency to operate as intended, cooperation between member states is required. The efforts against the spread of the WMD have also led to the formation of the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Conventions (Graebner, Dean, and Siracusa, 2008). International cooperation is required to ensure that the provisions of these treaties are observed by the state parties and for the enforcement of the punitive measures incase of the breach of the law. The multilateralist approach which has been adopted by various countries has already proved useful in maintaining international order. At the same time, diplomatic preventive measures have proved helpful in curbing the spread of the WMDs. So far, diplomatic efforts have been used in the North Korea and Iran to pressure the proliferators to abandon their programs. In the Iranian case, political dialogue was widely adopted to force the government to stop the enrichment programs. The negotiations with the Iranian government are still ongoing, and it is expected the international countries could use to force if the diplomatic strategy fails. To further prevent the spread of the WMD international cooperation will be required. In addition, () observes that greater cooperation will be needed in universalizing laws related to the biological and chemical weapons. Most importantly, enforcement of the existing laws and treaties will required the cooperation will require the input of all the countries including the developing ones.

2.3 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540

Under this resolution, countries are empowered to develop and implement measures aimed at preventing the spread of the WMD. However, as expected, some of the countries especially those in the developing world, lack the capacity to implement the resolution. As a result, the developed countries are mandated to help such nations with the necessary resources to ensure they submit their reports. According to the resolution, countries are required to show their capabilities in regard to the implementation of the border, export and transshipment, and financial controls. It is expected that with time, the resolution will become a legitimate legal and political standard, which brings all the countries together in the prevention of WMD proliferation. This strategy of threat reduction is already being used in Russia through the Nunn-Lunar program. The program seeks to reduce the large quantity of the soviet’s WMD and missile-related materials. In future, more countries will enroll in global partnerships to secure WMD-related materials, reduce fissile materials and minimize the use of highly-enriched uranium. Greater cooperation will also be required in helping countries to develop recycle and fuel treatment technologies that are more proliferation-resistant.

2.4 Combating nuclear terrorism

  From the graph below it is apparent that incidences involving theft of nuclear and radioactive materials have been reported.   Adopted from Hanley (2005) In future, global initiatives will be necessary in helping countries to develop capacities to combat the theft of nuclear materials. Already, the cooperation between various countries has led to the establishment of the legal frameworks such as the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities. These frameworks are geared towards improving physical protection of nuclear and radioactive materials, securing the civilian nuclear facilities, development of the necessary laws and regulations, and for information-sharing. The Global Initiative to combating nuclear terrorism not only requires the participation of the individual countries but also the private sector. According to Bentley (2013) the private sector will play an important role of securing the transit points and protecting the civilian nuclear facilities. Already the initiative has proved successful in removing weapons-usable material from vulnerable areas and reducing the stockpile of old missiles.

3.      Bombings and terrorism

One of the common tools used by the terrorists is bombs which are delivered by the suicide bombers or are planted at strategic places to inflict maximum harm to the victims. Terrorists mainly target civilian travelling by air and road (see the graph below).   Adopted from Sanders (2005)  In the UK bombings have been quite common and a perfect example is the Clerkenswell bombing which led to the death of 12 people while injuring a hundred others. Likewise, in 1919 ...