ASSASSINATION HAS ATTRACTED ATTENTION THROUGHOUT HISTORY, BUT FEW EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ANALYZE THIS FORM OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE. CITING EXAMPLES FROM VARIOUS HISTORICAL PERIODS AND IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE WORLD, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND ASSASSINATIONS OF PROMINENT POLITICAL FIGURES AND THE CONSEQUENT IMPACT ON EVENTS. ASSASSINATIONS ARE GROUPED AS FOLLOWS: KILLINGS MOTIVATED BY PERSONAL REASONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSESSION, VENEGANCE, OR GREED; ASSASSINATIONS DICTATED BY WARTIME CONDITIONS OR BY VIGILANTE GROUPS; STATE-AUTHORIZED ASSASSINATIONS; AND MURDERS COMMITTED BY REVOLUTIONARIES. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS WHICH ENCOURAGE ASSASSINATION ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE CHARACTERS OF THE ASSASSIN AND THE VICTIM ARE ANALYZED. THE THEORIES AND OPERATING METHODS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ASSASSIN ARE REVEALED IN FOUR TERRORIST KIDNAPPINGS AND MURDERS THAT OCCURRED IN EUROPE DURING THE LAST DECADE. IT IS NOTED THAT THE CONTEMPORARY ASSASSIN OPERATES IN AN INTERNATIONAL ARENA AND OFTEN INVOLVES INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. ALTHOUGH ASSASSINATION MAY BE ON THE DECLINE IN WESTERN DEMOCRATIC NATIONS, IT IS LIKELY TO REMAIN AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR REVOLUTIONARIES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. MUCH OF THE AUTHOR'S RESEARCH WAS BASED ON PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. A SHORT ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (MJM)