Abstract: Since 1945, the potential of nuclear proliferation has posed a major threat to global security and the balance of power. As the desire for nuclear weapons grew, so did their production, inevitably leading to a series of global nuclear mishaps for about half a century. These mishaps were caused by a combination of technical errors and human negligence in scientific, military, and civilian accidents. The threat of these incidents is directly tied to the global nuclear inventory, with the size and age of nuclear weapons playing a key role in their vulnerability.
Global nuclear vulnerability derives from a plethora of factors, many pertaining to the size and security of nuclear materials. Older nuclear states can glean major insights from their experience in preservation and maintenance of nuclear arsenals but face new challenges pertaining to decaying armaments as well as emerging threats such as evolved terrorist networks and governmental actors who continue to develop cyber capabilities. Changing technological advancements and an evolving environment pose new challenges for security, necessitating modern-day solutions that build on lessons from past failures.
Significant changes must occur in the implementation of nuclear policy as well as the modernization of nuclear technology in order to reduce future risk of mishap and construct adequate response plans. A combination of eliminating the hair-trigger alert, reducing national reliance on nuclear weapons, and decreasing the number of deployed long-range weapons will provide a realistic countermeasure to the ever-increasing threat of mutually assured destruction.