Which Lessons Matter?
Subtitle: American Foreign Policy Decision Making in the Middle East, 1979-1987 (Suny Series in Global Politics)
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Published: August 2000
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 217
ISBN-13: 9780791446508
Subjects: Political science & theory; c 1970 to c 1980; c 1980 to c 1990; Political Science; Politics / Current Events; Politics/International Relations; Government - U.S. Government; International Relations - General; Political History; Military - United States; Political Freedom & Security - International Secur; 1977-1981; 1981-1989; Foreign relations; Middle East; United States
Description: "This book offers a model of the analogical reasoning process that helps answer the important question of why some historical analogies are seen as relevant for later decisions, while others are ignored. It explores the previously neglected possibility that analogies can do more than simply advance the pre-existing interests of decision makers, but can also determine the very interests policy makers seek to further.

The usefulness of this approach in impacting the lessons of history is demonstrated by examining American policy toward Iran concerning American hostages from 1979 to 1987, detailing both the Carter administration's policy during the Hostage Crisis and the Reagan administration's policy that resulted in the Iran-Contra Affair."--BOOK JACKET.