Some reflections on historical comparisons for the UK's position in the world (now that the polls are done) and how it might be different than many assume. Thanks for those doing the polls. First off here are the best answers. https://twitter.com/PhillipsPOBrien/status/1380837010827542530

1) The UK today in GDP size is smaller than Spain and Italy in 1914. The UK is today about 2.4% of world GDP. Italy was about 3.3% in 1914 ($91 Billion out of a world total of $2733 Billion). Spain had approximately the same percapita GDP as Italy but a smaller population

In comparison France was about 5% of world GDP in 1914 (twice as large as the UK today) and Germany was approx 9%.

A great resource for economic statistics on the outbreak of the First World War comes, not surprisingly, from @mark4harrison who has a great online paper at: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/staff/mharrison/papers/ww1toronto2.pdf

2) GDP per capita. This is best done relationally to the largest power. Today the UK has a GDP per capita of somewhere between 66-67% of the USA (US about $68k and UK about $46k). In 1914 terms that is identical to France's position vis a vis the USA.

3) Military power. Not easy to do rankings. The Global Firepower index has the UK ranked 8th, in a group that extends to between 8-10. That seems about right. A small professional military with big ticket items but also growing weaknesses. https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.php

That would also place it close to Italy in 1914. A significant second/third rank military power with some advanced units (Italy manages a few dreadnoughts) but little ability to act independently.

So in summation the UK today is:
GDP--smaller than Italy/Spain in 1914
GDP per capita--identical to France in 1914
Military strength--close to Italy in 1914

All in all--The UK today is basically the Italy of 1914 (my guess is the government thinks its France).

In some ways that nots bad. Italy was seen as a serious power to be courted in the FWW. However, what it was not was a power with much agency. And thats the position the UK today is in. The UK will get into problem if it assumes its more powerful than it is.

One of the great problems it will face is coming to terms with being an Italian like power. Its programmed to think otherwise.