Tables illustrate the following features of political hostage incidents: geographic distribution, characteristics of the group involved, the victim, the demands and response to the demands, and the hostages' fate. Overall, 146 political hostage incidents occurred within the Council of Europe countries between 1970 and 1982. The only clear pattern is that countries with longstanding separatist movements, nonintegrated foreign exile communities, or pronounced local cultures of violence have suffered most. The paper discusses six variables which affect a government's response: nature of the demands, nature of the seizure, location of the incident, nature of the hostages, nature of the hostage-takers, and host government policy. The author shows how important is the maintenance of the nerve and courage of those responsible for law and order and the need for popular support for firm action to preserve civilized societies. (Author abstract modified)