Abstract
The Grand Unified Theory of Nuclear Terrorism Response is a set of principles designed to help government, counterterrorism, and civil society understand and respond to the threat of nuclear terrorism. It achieves this goal by providing a simple framework for the reliable and transparent use of force and coordinating several parallel theories used in thinking about and responding to nuclear terrorism. This theory and its accompanying principles are intended to increase public awareness of the threat of nuclear terrorism and to promote a public dialogue about what should be done in response. Ultimately, it seeks to provide a foundation for everyday people, scholars, and practitioners of international relations who want to understand what concerns they should have about nuclear terrorism, and give them the basis to determine which governmental actions are acceptable and which are not, providing a way for people to knowledgeably support their governments or hold them accountable.
