AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, DEFINING THE TERM 'KIDNAPPING' AND OUTLINING THE VARIATIONS OF THE CRIME, MOTIVATIONS, AND TYPES OF PERPETRATORS USUSALLY INVOLVED. THE VOLUME IS CONCERNED EXCLUSIVELY WITH POLITICAL KIDNAPPINGS, AND THESE ARE DISTINGUISHED FROM CRIMINAL, OR MERCENARY TYPES. AN OUTLINE OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF A KIDNAPPING OPERATION IS THEN PRESENTED. FACTORS WHICH THE OPERATION MANAGER MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IN DESIGNING THE EFFORT INCLUDE: DESIRED RESULT OF THE KIDNAPPING; PRINCIPAL TARGET; SUB-TARGETS; EXPECTED PERSONNEL, TECHNICAL, AND SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS; EXPECTED COST; SECURITY AND COVER; OBSTACLES TO THE OPERATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE RISKS INHERENT IN OVERCOMING THEM; AND ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE SHOULD THE OPERATION BE DISCOVERED AT ANY STAGE. THE ORDERED PHASES OF A SOPHISTICATED POLITICAL KIDNAPPING OPERATION AND THE PLANNING AND ACTION INVOLVED IN EACH ARE DISCUSSED. THE PRELIMINARY PHASE INVOLVES THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION AND SELECTION OF THE TARGET; THE OPERATION'S COMMAND DETERMINES TIMING, METHOD SECURITY, AND OTHER DECISION AREAS DURING THE FORMULATION PHASE; THE PROTECTION PROCESS INVOLVES THE PREVENTION OF DISCOVERY AND OF APPREHENSION, AND THE PROVISION OF A OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN COVER; OPERATIONAL SUPPORT IS CONCERNED WITH COMMUNICATIONS, ACCOMODATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT, AND SUPPLY. THE FINAL STEP IS THE ACTION PHASE; IT OPENS WHEN ALL PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET. FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE SELECTION OF OPERATIONAL TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS DESIRED RESULT AND EXPECTED COUNTERMEASURES, ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. A FINAL SECTION CONTAINS EVALUATIVE AND EXPLORATORY NOTES ON SUCH TOPICS AS VARIATIONS ON THE BASIC THEME OF KIDNAPPING AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BODYGUARDS IN PREVENTING A KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT. A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (VDA)