Citation

Nedava Y. Terrorism 1979; 3(1-2): 69-80.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979)

DOI

10.1080/10576107908435445

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Literature dealing with individual terrorism through the ages is voluminous. Assassinations have occurred since the dawn of civilization, and tyrannicide has been the subject of philosophical discussion and analysis since the formative stages of human society. At first, the act of killing a tyrant was not frowned upon, and it carried no suggestion of moral obloquy. On the contrary, it was considered a legitimate means of meting out justice where no other remedy was available to the afflicted; it thus reflected commendable, and not only justifiable, vengeance. With the growth of some semblance of an organized, democratic society, assassinations begin to be regarded as a threat to recognized authority. Such a resort to extralegal means seemed likely to lead to anarchy, thus endangering the very basis of existence of society. Assassinations soon came under the heading of criminal acts and were dealt with accordingly.

Language: en