The Conflict

The past few years have shown a noticeable increase in the number of hostage taking incidents worldwide. Motivated by the prospect of receiving money in exchange for their hostages, numerous rebel and extremist groups around the world are increasingly turning to hostage taking for ransom as a means of financing their activities, recruiting new supporters, and generating public sympathy towards their cause. Many governments are reluctant to negotiate with terrorists out of the belief that other terrorist groups may take advantage of the precedent.

Political

• A high percentage of hostage takings occur in countries with political and social unrest, a high level of inequity among the countries' citizens, and where the local law enforcement community is either corrupt or simply unable to keep the rebel groups under control.
• In countries plagued by...