Political assassinations have been part of social reality since the emergence of communities, as the leaders of tribes, villages and countries, constantly needed to defend or grab power and privileged status. In the ancient world assassination featured prominently in the rise and fall of some of the greatest empires.
In modern times, political assassinations continue to play an important role in political and social processes and, in some cases, have a dramatic effect on the success or failure of political movements.
Because politics always involves conflicts over values, because leaders come to symbolize political virtues and vices, because political leaders are just as frail and mortal as anyone else, and because there are always some zealots and psychopaths around, assassination is obviously a possibility at any time.
Here’s a collection of 5 movies on political assassinations. Although fictional, 2 are based on real life characters who were assassinated: Charles de Gaulle and John F. Kennedy. De Gaulle survived. JFK did not.
