When Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, she and the Conservative party had to face economic and social decline. However, the Iron Lady was determined to cure “the sick man of Europe”; her medicine was to roll back the state – building up a “stakeholder culture”.
Today, Britain is one of the freest and healthiest economies in the world – most of its businesses and industries are private-owned, trade unions have lost most of their influence, and unemployment and inflation rates are low.
Yet, one can ask to what extent Thatcherism has contributed to Britain’s present prosperity. Critics argue that Thatcher’s reign coincided with a general improvement in world economy and tax revenues from North Sea oil.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Post-war Britain – “The sick man of Europe”
- The Labour government's programme
- The other side of the coin
- Over the long term
- To get out of inflation problems
- The Thatcherite era (1979-90)
- The new prime minister
- The Iron Lady
- Traces of Thatcherism's legacy in present day Britain
- Margareth Thatcher: a controversial figure of modern politics
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the extent to which Thatcher and Thatcherism have changed Britain. It examines the economic and social state of Britain following World War II, focusing on the “British disease” and the Labour government's policies. The paper then investigates Thatcher’s policies and their impact on Britain's economic and social landscape. Finally, it explores the lasting legacy of Thatcherism and its influence on contemporary Britain.
- The decline of postwar Britain and the “British disease”
- The impact of Thatcherism on the British economy and society
- The legacy of Thatcherism in present-day Britain
- The political and economic philosophies of Thatcher and her opponents
- The role of government intervention in the economy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the context for the paper by outlining the economic and social challenges faced by Britain following World War II. The second chapter explores the state of postwar Britain, highlighting the political consensus that characterized the period, the role of the Labour government, and the emergence of the “British disease.” This chapter outlines the failures of the Labour government's policies and the growing economic and social problems facing Britain. The third chapter examines the Thatcherite era, focusing on the policies implemented by Margaret Thatcher and the impact of Thatcherism on British society. The chapter covers key elements of Thatcherism, such as monetarism, denationalization, and the reduction of trade union power, and examines their effects on the British economy and social landscape.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key words and focus topics of this paper include Thatcherism, postwar Britain, the British disease, monetarism, denationalization, trade union power, government intervention, economic reform, social change, and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher.
- Quote paper
- Alexandra Dienst (Author), 2005, To what extent did Thatcher and Thatcherism change Britain?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/47192
