AN ASSASSINATION TYPOLOGY
The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence
identifies five types of assassinations as follows:
1. One leader assassinates another so as to emerge as the new
leader. This type is common in the middle east and in Latin
America, but not in the U.S. This is a lower level leader
killing a higher level leader. Example - Hitler killing
Hindenburg, Ernst Rohm; the killing of Julius Caesar by the
Roman Senate.
2. Government agents assassinate in order to suppress political
challenges from rival political groups. This would be
higher level leaders killing off potential rivals who are
equal to or lower than they are. Example - Marcos regime
killing Aquino, Hitler's Operation Hummingbird (not the Rohm
killing, but the 999+ others); Lenin killing Trotsky; Stalin
killing Sergei Kirov (and then 40 to 50 million others).
3. Assassinate to create fear and demoralize the existing power
in order to get a change in government. Often done in
countries where another country is serving as the colonial
power. Example - Indian terrorists assassinate British
personnel in order to get the British to leave India;
Italian Red Brigade murders would fit here; M-19; Irish
Republican Army.
4. Assassinate for propaganda purposes. Terrorist groups
assassinate someone to bring attention to their group.
Example - Attempts on Ford's life by Squeeky Fromm; Leon
Czologocz assassination of McKinnley; SLA killing of Marcus
Foster; New World Liberation Front bombings; Zangara attempt
on Franklin Roosevelt.
5. Assassination the result of mental instability on the part
of the assassin. Example - Reagan's would be assassin,
Hinckley (had the Jodi Foster infatuation); Lawrence attempt
on Andrew Jackson; Guiteau attack on Garfield.
James F. Kirkham, et al., Assassination and Political Violence:
A Report to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention
of Violence. New York: Bantom Books, l970, pp. 3-7; James
Poland, Understanding Terrorism. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, l991, pp. 168-172.