International Kidnapping as a Business Essay -- essays research papers

Summary 5 pages. 7 sources. APA plaster castat.International kidnappings are on the rise and have become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. This paper looks at kidnapping as a thriving business.International snap as a BusinessIntroductionThe kidnapping and ransom of individuals for profit has dramatically increased in the past decade throughout the world. While the legal age of victims are wealthy businessmen, more recently, the average tourist has become a target for kidnappers looking for monetary and material gain. In recent years, kidnappers have as well as become more organized and are demanding more money for the safe return of hostages.Why has international kidnapping been on the increase? The simple reception is because it has become an extremely profitable form of business transaction for the kidnappers. This paper analyzes and scrutinizes international kidnapping as a thriving business.The Business of seize Kidnappings nearly the world have typicall y had one of two major goals publicity for a local semipolitical cause or as a form of fund-raising for the kidnappers. Recently, kidnappings for political reasons have been on the decrease, whereas kidnapping for profit has seen a dramatic increase. A prime example of this trend is in Colombia. According to writer David Williams, Colombia is considered to be the kidnapping capital of the world, with rival guerrilla and paramilitary groups consistently abducting civicians - including businessmen, tourists and aid workers (2001, para.1). The ransom money obtained from these activities is used primarily to finance a 37-year civil war in Colombia (Williams, 2001, para.1). The U.S. State Department estimates that more than 3,000 people are kidnapped in Colombia each year (Williams, 2001, para.2). Most kidnap victims are Colombians who are every wealthy or who can at least come up with a few thousand dollars. And, according to Williams, although the kidnappings are most often performed by political dissidents, the motivation for the kidnappings is usually money, not politics (para.11). Mike Ackerman, founder of The Ackerman Group, a Miami, Florida-based firm that consults companies in kidnap and ransom cases, said "They are political groups that do the kidnapping, but theyre out for money. The political groups have to support themselves and one of the ways that they support th... ...insurance policies, one can surmise that kidnappings for profit will pertain to increase throughout the world and continue to grow as a business.BibliographyAuerbach, A. H., (1998). Ransom The Untold Story of International Kidnapping. New York Henry Holt and Company.Clancy, C. (2001). Kidnapping businesspeople has become bigbusiness. Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2003, fromhttp//sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2001/09/24/smallb2.htmlExpatriation Trend, The. (1997-2003). Cyberhaven.com. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http//www.cyberhaven.com/of fshorelibrary/expatriation.htmlFielding Worldwide, Inc. (1998). Kidnap, Rescue and Extortion Insurance. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http//www.comebackalive.com/df/kidnapp/kdnapins.htmHargrove, T. R., (2001). Long shew to Freedom. New York Random House, Inc.Wall, T. (February 26, 1997). The Kidnap Business. Salon.com. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http//www.salon.com/feb97/news/news2970226.htmlWilliams, D. (May 7, 2001). Kidnapping is Big Business in Colombia. CNN.com/World. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http//www-cgi.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/americas /05/07/colombia.kidnapping/