This book explores the pros and cons of the death penalty and the history of capital punishment. In this context, it puts a special emphasis on the situation in Hungary, where, amongst its neighbors, in recent years the demand for the reestablishment of the death penalty has received the strongest political support from many pro-government politicians. Toth presents tendencies toward abolition of the death penalty and analyzes the arguments by which the death penalty can, in principle, be criticized or even defended. The book presents the main issues of the death penalty, arguments of both abolitionists and retentionists, and reviews the modern history of this sanction. It does not seek to convince the reader of the correctness or wrongness of the death penalty, but it presents both sides of the argument and their standpoints, and leaves the reader to decide. It encourages informed debate and discussion.

Zoltan J. Toth is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Karoli Gaspar University of the Hungarian Reformed Church, Budapest, Hungary.

1. Introduction.- 2. The Deterrent Effect - From An A Priori Logic.- 3. Capital Punishment As An Inhumane Punishment.- 4. Necessity Or Lack Of Need For Capital Punishment.- 5. Miscarriage Of Justice.- 6. The Goal Of Punishment.- 7. Economic Considerations.- 8. Other Reasons For And Against Capital Punishment.- 9. Statutory Regulation Of Capital Punishment In Hungary During The Horthy Era And World War II.- 10. The Death Penalty In The Years After Liberation From Nazi Occupation And During The Establishment Of The Soviet Dictatorship.- 11. Capital Punishment In The First Decade Of State Socialism.- 12. Capital Punishment In The 60's And 70'sThe Act No. IV Of 1978 On The Criminal Code Of Hungary.- 14. The End Time Of The Death Penalty In Hungary: Two Steps Of The Abolition In 1989/90.- 15. Public Opinion In Hungary In The Light Of The Current Legal Situation And The Facts About Trends In Murder Rates.- 16. Revived Debate On The Death Penalty In The Political Scene.