As a History student, I’ve learnt that more often than not certain kinds of events happen in a similar sort of cycle. Never has this been more evident than in recent times, with numerous events curiously parallel to those that preceded the Second World War. Have I lost you? Ok, let me put out my examples and hopefully you’ll grasp the point I’m trying to make here.

I shall list the reasons why the current climate is similar to that of the events prior to World War 2:

-As the title suggests, an economic depression on a global scale. Originating in America both times.

-Opposing tyrants; Adolf Hitler was defeated in 1945, Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003 and executed in 2006.

-Trouble in Africa; the Abyssinian episode in the 1930’s compared to the crisis in Congo and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

-An attack on American soil; the aftermath of September 11th strikingly resembles that of Pearl Harbour.

-Worries in Eastern Europe; Russia recently strayed into Belarus and backed down to Western threats. This may be a bit extreme, but Hitler said if the allies showed any resistance when they took back the Rhineland, the soldiers were to back down.

-Asian threat; Japan invading China in the 1930’s, present day North Korea have been keeping quiet an awful long time…

-Prime ministers; Churchill and Brown both studied History at some point in their lives (something they share with yours truly).

I understand this is slightly outrageous and people probably will think I’m one of the “end is nigh” kind of guys (excuse the rhyme). However I’d like to think I’m making mere observations and just having a little bit of historical fun. Obviously if World War 3 does break out I can officially say “I told you so” with the smuggest grin on my face whilst hiding in a bomb shelter with nuclear bombs dropping in an apocalyptic landslide. May the good times roll...