The modern information space cannot boast of the lack of coverage of various international and regional conflicts that are resolved through the use of force with hostage taking, and not diplomacy. A description of such situations is possible using certain terms, one of which is the word "hostage".
Origin of the term
The word comes from a Russian pledge (or an outdated mortgage). The synonyms of this word are a guarantee (of something or any circumstances) or security. Hence the hostage is, as a rule, a person forcibly deprived of freedom of movement and expression of will for the purpose of selfish ends of a narrow circle of people or to ensure the planned course of events.
There are also various options for the forced use of prisoners, for example, in the form of a human shield or a means of extorting any resources, information, etc. However, in modern conflicts, hostage-taking for the sake of capture itself is increasingly observed (as a demonstration of their strength). The behavior of such aggressors is the most unpredictable. The phenomenon itself did not arise yesterday and has deep historical roots.
A brief digression into the history of the issue
Since ancient times, hostage with a small share of change has successfully existed until the twenty-first century. In both Egypt and China, it was customary to keep members of noble and influential families hostage as a guarantee of loyalty in resolving certain issues and the general neighborhood policy.
In the Middle Ages, a hostage is basically a person close to that person whose activities must be controlled to the smallest detail. The price of solving all issues has always been the life of a prisoner. In the twentieth century, hostage is known as "red and white terror." The essence has not changed, but the cruelty with which the prisoners were treated only grew.
The current situation with hostage taking, unfortunately, is exacerbated by national, religious, territorial discord. And the release of prisoners is increasingly subject to the rules of Russian roulette, not logic.