visszavétele

Visszavétele is a noun in Hungarian that denotes retaliation or reprisal in response to a harm or offense. The term covers both personal responses to injuries or insults and formal countermeasures taken by states, organizations, or groups. Its aim is to punish the offender, deter future harm, or restore a perceived balance.

In interpersonal contexts, visszavétele can range from direct revenge to social sanctions, and may escalate conflicts if not restrained by norms or law. In political or international contexts, it refers to countermeasures such as sanctions, tariffs, or other actions designed to influence behavior in response to a policy or military move by another actor. It is distinct from pre-emptive self-defense and from formal dispute resolution mechanisms, but can overlap with them when the response is framed as deterrence or retaliation.

Ethical and legal considerations vary. Many legal systems prohibit violent revenge and treat it as criminal. In international law, countermeasures are allowed under certain conditions, provided they are proportionate, non-forcible, and temporary, and do not affect third parties unduly. Prolonged or indiscriminate retaliation can lead to cycles of violence and undermine a rule-based order.

Common forms include direct retaliation against the offender, indirect or economic measures, and collective actions by a group or country. The concept remains controversial: some view it as deterrence and justice, while others warn of escalation and the erosion of legal norms.