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How historical analogies in newspapers of five countries make sense of major events: 9/11, Mumbai and Tahrir Square

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  • Axelrod, Robert
  • Forster, Larissa

Abstract

We analyze how historical analogies are used in the media to make sense of novel events. While earlier work focused on single case studies, this is the first quantitative analysis comparing historical analogies invoked in three events in newspapers from five countries. With very high intercoder reliability we found 881 invocations of historical analogies. We found an interesting contrast between the roles of historical analogies in foreign policy decision making vs. newspaper articles. When the task is advocacy for policy choice, a compelling historical analogy will be one in which the causal mechanisms are as similar as possible to the current situation so that similar actions are likely to lead to similar results. Instead, newspapers spend more time at the early stages of sense-making and help the audience understand just a few features of the current situation. Newspapers thus offer a much broader range of historical analogies without much regard to maximizing similarity.

Suggested Citation

  • Axelrod, Robert & Forster, Larissa, 2017. "How historical analogies in newspapers of five countries make sense of major events: 9/11, Mumbai and Tahrir Square," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 8-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reecon:v:71:y:2017:i:1:p:8-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rie.2016.08.001
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    2. Peterson, M. J., 1997. "The use of analogies in developing outer space law," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(2), pages 245-274, April.
    3. Aidan Hehir, 2006. "The Impact of Analogical Reasoning on US Foreign Policy Towards Kosovo," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 43(1), pages 67-81, January.
    4. Houghton, David Patrick, 1996. "The Role of Analogical Reasoning in Novel Foreign-Policy Situations," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(4), pages 523-552, October.
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