Which Lessons Matter?: American Foreign Policy Decision Making in the Middle East, 1979-1987

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Exploring the role of historical analogies in policymaking, the book presents a model of analogical reasoning that reveals why certain historical lessons influence decisions while others are overlooked. It argues that analogies can shape the interests of policymakers, not just reflect them. This concept is illustrated through an analysis of U.S. policy toward Iran from 1979 to 1987, focusing on the contrasting approaches of the Carter administration during the Hostage Crisis and the Reagan administration's Iran-Contra Affair.