10 Political Deaths That Shocked the World

10-Political-Deaths-That-Shocked-the-World

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the deaths of high-profile figures that impacted the world at large.

Benazir Bhutto

1953-2007

While they are now a lot more common, female political leaders are still a relatively new phenomenon in certain areas of the world. Benazir Bhutto smashed the glass ceiling when she became the first woman elected to lead Pakistan in 1988. Despite stiff opposition, she helped popularize liberalism in the country. During a campaign rally in 2007, several shots were fired, and a detonated bomb tragically took her life. Her demise was condemned by supporters and the United Nations, and the Pakistan People’s Party surged in popularity. There were also economic ramifications, with the currency plummeting in value. While Pakistan hasn’t elected another woman to her seat since then, she’s proof that it was– and still is– possible.

Shinzo Abe

1954-2022

A cornerstone in Japanese politics, Shinzo Abe was Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister and one of its most controversial. He was a polarizing figure, particularly due to his nationalist ideologies and his supposed ties to the infamous Unification Church. While giving a campaign speech in 2022, Abe was suddenly interrupted by a gunman who fired at him. The first shot missed, but the second struck him fatally. He became the first former leader to be assassinated in the country since the 1930s, and his death sent the nation reeling. When it was revealed that his connections with the church was the killer’s main motivation, legislation was passed to prevent the organization from bankrupting civilians– a blip of hope amid the tragedy.

Yitzhak Rabin

1922-95

Tensions in the Middle East have been high for decades– but for a brief moment, there was a chance at achieving peace. Yitzhak Rabin’s second term as Israeli prime minister was built on the promise of ending their conflict with Palestine. He was initially successful, making strong headway and signing the first part of the Oslo Accords, which sought to achieve peace between the two countries. This led to him being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. His goals were commendable, but unfortunately, not everyone agreed with them. In November 1995, Rabin was shot by a right-wing extremist, and eventually succumbed to his injuries. The vicious act immediately halted any progress, causing violence between the two regions to escalate since then.

Muammar Gaddafi

1942-2011

Maintaining authority for decades doesn’t automatically equate to full support. Muammar Gaddafi secured power over Libya in 1969, and his 40-year tenure was long and divisive. Between advocating for a pan-Arab nation and harshly controlling his own citizens, several opposition groups formed during his regime. Things continued to escalate throughout 2011, culminating in the city of Sirte falling to revolutionaries and Gaddafi being apprehended. The exact events afterwards remain unclear, but the once powerful ruler was relentlessly attacked and slain. He remained controversial even in death, with some considering his killing a war crime. While this event led to the end of the first Libyan civil war, disagreements between former Gaddafi loyalists and the interim National Transitional Council ultimately resulted in a second civil war.

Mahatma Gandhi

1869-1948

Throughout history, colonialism has been a recurring issue. In the 19th century, India was overtaken by Britain, leading to their oppression and untold financial ruin. While many would have sought vengeance through violence, Mahatma Gandhi went down a different route. He used peaceful protests to expose the regime’s wrongdoings, inciting positive change locally and internationally– yet somehow, it wasn’t enough. On January 30th, 1948, Gandhi was murdered, shocking the entire world. Over two million people attended his funeral procession, and his fate directly affected the country’s control. His assassination wasn’t the only pivotal moment for India– the murder of Indira Gandhi in 1984 by Sikh nationalists led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Sikhs.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

1929-68

There’s a cruel irony in someone who preached constant peace having his life cut short in such an extreme way. During the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of its most prominent leaders. His use of civil disobedience and nonviolent protests helped highlight the discrimination occurring daily in the United States. He was an advocate for pure equality, fighting everything from segregation to unjust voting laws. He became a symbolic figure for the movement itself– making his sudden assassination in 1968 by James Earl Ray all the more shocking. The country mourned him en masse– even those who opposed him politically– and just days later, the government finally passed the Equal Rights Act of 1968.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

1863-1914

Several factors contributed to the onset of WWI, but there was one event that truly lit the proverbial flame. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria held authoritarian beliefs, reportedly even saying that politics only mattered for those in power, and everyone else simply had to obey. He never got a chance to rescind these feelings or act on them, as he was assassinated in 1914 by a member of a secret Serbian military force. Despite not being as well known as other leaders, his death still had a massive effect on the world at large. It ignited tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, eventually drawing nearly the entire world into one of the bloodiest conflicts in history.

Qasem Soleimani

1957-2020

While 2020 is mostly remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic, it almost marked the start of another potential world war. Qasem Soleimani was an extremely powerful military commander in Iran, who oversaw several operations and played a crucial role during the Syrian Civil War. He also had a contentious relationship with the United States, leading to him being declared a threat by the nation in 2005. In January 2020, the General was slain in a coordinated drone attack from America, with the justification being his alleged role in previous attacks against U.S. troops. The assassination worsened existing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with the Middle Eastern nation carrying out retaliatory attacks on an American airbase in Iraq five days later.

John F. Kennedy

1917-63

While a few U.S. presidents have died in office, this one had a particularly significant cultural impact. During his presidency, John F. Kennedy dealt with Cold War tensions against the Soviet Union and Cuba, but he managed to keep the country from nuclear war. He was widely beloved and his speeches alone united citizens against their enemies overseas. Kennedy was so well-liked that his sudden assassination in November 1963 left the nation completely shell-shocked. The news of his death was broken to the nation by CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, after which Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President. Hundreds of thousands gathered to mourn Kennedy’s death, and to this day, it remains one of the country’s most haunting moments.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Tsar Nicholas II, 1868-1918
This Marked the Official End of the Russian Monarchy & the Beginning of the Soviet Union

Jovenol Moïse, 1968-2021
His Sudden Assassination Brought about a Multi-Week State of Emergency in Haiti

Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945
It Signaled the End of WWII, & Started the Sanctions That Would Usher in the Cold War

Saddam Hussein, 1937-2006
His Execution Left People Wishing He Could’ve Seen More Justice for His War Crimes

Patrice Lumumba, 1925-61
His Death Exposed the Horrific Relationship Between Belgium & the Republic of Congo

Julius Caesar

100-44 BC

Despite having ruled over a millenia ago, Julius Caesar’s impact both in life and death is undeniable. He started out as a general, leading Rome to victory in several battles, and played a crucial role in their transition from Republic to Empire. After defying the Senate and achieving victory, he rose to total power, resulting in a short-lived dictatorship. On the Ides of March, the powerful figure was stabbed over twenty times, cutting his reign short. The reaction was swift and severe, with the Curia of Pompey being burnt down soon after. Several supporters even started a war to avenge their fallen leader. As if that weren’t enough, the Actium War began soon after, bringing about the end of the Roman Republic.


Which political figure's death do you think had the biggest impact on the world? Sound off in the comments.