  In previous work the authors analysed the global properties of an approximate
model of radiation damping for charged particles. This work is put into context
and related to the original motivation of understanding approximations used in
the study of gravitational radiation damping. It is examined to what extent the
results obtained previously depend on the particular model chosen. Comparisons
are made with other models for gravitational and electromagnetic fields. The
relation of the kinetic model for which theorems were proved to certain
many-particle models with radiation damping is exhibited.
