THE AUTHOR TRACES THE PHENOMENON FROM EARLY GREEK AND ROMAN CIVILIZATIONS. ASSASSINATION WAS USED IN THE GREAT EUROPEAN CIVILIZATIONS, AND IN NEAR AND MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURES, SUCH AS THE OTTOMAN TURKISH EMPIRE. MORE THAN 30 RULERS OR FORMER RULERS WERE ASSASSINATED IN SOUTH AMERICA IN 162 YEARS SINCE THE ASSASSINATION OF DESSALINES IN HAITI. POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, LIKE INDIVIDUAL TERROR, IS OFTEN PRACTICED TO KEEP THE FUTURE WORLD FREE FROM AUTOCRACY, ACCORDING TO SOME THEORIES. BUT, LIKE INDIVIDUAL TERROR, POLITICAL ASSASSINATION SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF PERSONALITY, GROUP, AND SITUATION....BDS