The challenge of weighing up the value of hostages

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses the historical evolution of pricing lives in the context of hostage taking. In ancient times, hostages were sometimes given as gifts by weaker powers to stronger rulers in the hope of reaching peace. Today, hostage-taking is still an important feature of international and domestic conflicts. However, hostages are no longer given, they are abducted. In the aftermath of the capture of their citizens, states have to calculate the consequences of their decision, that is, whether they agree to compromise with the hostage takers or not. For political reasons (i.e. states have to take into account what the expectations of their own population are) and logical ones (the non-commensurability of goods), states are often undecided. This chapter shows that the state is willing to maintain its stronghold on the lives of its citizens, therefore it is inclined not to compromise with hostage takers unless there is a strong social demand that requires its leaders to do so. Because lives are valued more than they were in the past, a growing number of states decide to compromise and make concessions with their interests in order to have their citizens freed.