Historical Analysis

[unmerged(5112)]

I think that one of the most important things that come from researching history is the ability to be able to see similarities between situations in history and situations in the modern world, and, in so doing, be more capable of dealing with threats to the modern world. I, not being a great historian or analyzer, have trouble finding similarities between old and modern situations but I know that they must exist. The situation in Iraq is what I have been pondering on for quite some time. I just can't seem to find any identical situation in history. I was thinking the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 but, although the English people were "liberated" by the protestant Dutch, it had little other similarities. Starting with this War in Iraq does anyone know of any similar/ identical situations in history. I've been racking my brain for something for a week but just can't seem to find anything. It might just be my weak analyzing skills.

Big Thanks
Z

 

[Aetius]

Apart from the British invasion during WW1?

 

[Vandelay]

The US/ British invasion of Iraq has some similarities with the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 e.g. complete conventional military superiority, weak international support, overly hopeful expectations on getting (a part of) the civilians "on our side".

Some similarities, but history seldom provides perfect analogies.

Cheers,
Vandelay

 

[Pero Coveilha]

IMO, analogic reasoning is more problematic than it helps analysis. It leads you to channel your observations on partial similarities, while omitting to understand the combination of all the elements

 

[Dark Knight]

I think I've previously expressed my distaste for superficial historical analogies.

That said, the scenario that comes to mind for a comparison to the Iraq war is a 'unilateral' French overthrowing of Hitler in 1936 (although this is counterfactual rather than strictly historical).

But, anyway, the history forums aren't the place for threads on the current Iraq war; they couldn't escape becoming political.