A methodology for the assessment of the differ-
ential resistance of various nuclear power systems to
misuse for the production of nuclear weapons is
developed. In the context of this study, a nuclear
system comprises a particular fuel cycle and the
political/institutional framework in which it oper-
ates. The latter may be country-specific.
The methodology is based on the principles of
Multiattribute Decision Analysis, wherein a set of in-
dices or attributes which characterize the prolifera-
tion resistance of nuclear systems is defined and
evaluated for particular systems. Emphasis has been
placed on delineating the logical structure of the
problem, rather than on rank ordering the various
systems of interest via techniques which aggregate the
attribute values in a consistent manner. However,
examples of the application of decision analysis in the
latter situation have also been given to illustrate the
potential of this approach to the proliferation problem.
