What does the word “hostage” mean to you? Personally, I’m not sure. I understand the clear-cut cases. The bank robber who threatens to harm a civilian if the bank clerk does not comply has taken a hostage. Civilians being taken from their homes to be used by a terrorist organization to gain political leverage are hostages. Other cases, however, are less straightforward.
Let’s start small. Everyone loves the cinematic classic of the Mexican standoff. “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us…” and so forth. Whether watching a Spaghetti Western or a Tarantino film, moviegoers adore these tense moments where revolvers are drawn, and demands are made. Is this a form of mutual hostage-taking? Some of these cases even have a third party caught up in the drama. Does that make it more of one?
Let’s scale up. Can national leaders hold their own citizens hostage? Threatening malnutrition or destruction while testing the willingness of the world to yield in order to end suffering. It’s a risky gambit for sure, but not unthinkable. There are many cases of governments making demands before they authorize the delivery of aid to their own sick or malnourished.
Now, how about this? Imagine a state not holding its own citizens hostage, but that of an occupied people. Let’s say this state can cut access to water, food, and electricity at the press of a button. It can arrest and hold people as administrative detainees without charging them with crimes or providing evidence. A state that uses snipers to murder teenagers for throwing stones. Would the occupied people and the international order not then accept more demands out of fear of punishment than as a result of fair negotiations? Should we, instead of diplomats, call in hostage negotiators? Is there a difference?
Just as hypothetical as the most powerful leader in the world demanding a massive chunk of its worn-torn ally’s minerals under the threat of complete abandonment. Is the latter taken hostage? Can we even think of entire nations as being hostages or is it just a question of balance of power?
Clearly, I have a lot of questions. It may all come down to circumstance and context. This article has consisted of more questions than claims, and for good reason. The goal was never to present a clear-cut understanding of the term “hostage” but to make you doubt the one you already have.
The first step to explaining the world around you is doubting what you already know about it. I think Mark Twain puts it best: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
“The Hostage Situation” by cszar is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.