Chapter summary
This chapter demonstrates that criminology theories can provide insight into the study of assassination as a terrorist tactic. An overview of the history of assassination is offered, along with a discussion of the relationship between this tactic and terrorism. The current assassination literature is then reviewed, and a discussion of the criminology theories that have been utilized in terrorism studies is provided. An explanation of how these criminology theories are similarly applicable to assassination studies is then detailed. Next, the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is highlighted as an appropriate dataset for researchers to study assassinations and descriptive results are presented. This chapter concludes with recommendations for how future criminological research can explore assassinations.