| The British occupation of Iraq after 1918, the American occupation of Japan from 1945-1951, and the ongoing occupation of Iraq by the United States reveal important lessons about how military occupation can be used by liberal democratic states to foster a politically acceptable peace, as well as concerning the colonial relations that emerge between occupier and occupied. These cases reveal that successful occupation requires finding allies with whom to work, winning the hearts and minds of the populace, and managing often unexpected challenges. Success entails dealing with tangible sources of instability, not merely implementing political reforms. Above all, occupation is a gamble. It is a complex struggle for power, and the occupier is only ever partially in control. The indigenous population steers the course of the occupation as much as the occupier does. Consequently, results are never guaranteed. In the final analysis, occupation is a costly operation that often produces only diminished returns. |
