What was the significance of the Thatcher years?

Résumé du document

Although the Thatcher years marked a significant break from the post-war political settlement, ‘Thatcherism did not cause a single, abrupt caesura appearing out of the blues'. Truly, Thatcher's success during her years has mostly depended on a range of circumstances and political commitments to whom that constitute the majority of the electorate. However, she has been at the origin of the new British political order, and her influence on politics remains even today, years after she fell from power. If she arrived in power at a time when the role of the State was questioned, does it mean that she presided over a wholly new consensus? Did her victories at the polls prove that the British people have been gradually integrated into a new way of thinking during the 80's?

Extraits

[...] All this data prove that the significance of Thatcherism has been misunderstood. First of all, because most of the studies carried through on the Thatcher years have been written before 1990, that is to say before she fell from power. Moreover, Mrs Thatcher was so highly perverting British institutions example with her personal ‘style'– that it is difficult, even now, to evaluate her administration and to conclude whether she was a visionary or a maverick leader unable to play the political game, who has caused more damage than progresses. [...]

[...] Of course Britain was successfully capitalist, but this is a long way from the public's ideals. British have remained attached to collectivism, social democracy and welfare state, in this regard the revolution is incomplete. Thatcherism failed in building a new coherent model. For instance, polls victories do not mean anything. In 1987, still only 32%of the whole electorate voted for Thatcherism, although the government was returned three times, and during this same election, Tories in Scotland lost half their remaining seats. [...]

[...] What was the significance of the Thatcher years? Although the Thatcher years marked a significant break from the post- war political settlement, ‘Thatcherism did not cause a single, abrupt caesura appearing out of the blues'[1]. To say true, Thatcher's success during years has mostly depended on a range of circumstances and political commitments to whom that constitute the majority of the electorate. However, she has been at the origin of the new British political order, and her influence on politics remains today, even years after she fell from power. [...]

[...] To say true, the fulfilment of the Thatcher projects required the destruction of popular social and civic rights, such as trade- unions rights or local governance. So that even those convinced by the virtues of Thatcherism pensioners, women - could be in a situation where Thatcherism was directly infringing their interests. Thatcherism obviously provoked a rupture, but failed to resolve it. It is for this reason that most critics have seen Thatcher revolution as ‘only skin deep' or as an half revolution'. [...]

[...] cited in One of us, Life of Margaret Thatcher by Hugo Young, introduction chapter cited in Bill Schwarz The Thatcher years p 117. The New British Politics by Ian Budge, Ivor Crewe, David McKay, K.M. Newton p edition. Mrs Thatcher's revolution : the Ending of the Socialist Era by Peter Jenkins cited in Skidelski's Thatcherism p cited by Bob Jessop Authoritarian populism, two nations and Thatcherism' New Left Review p.40 cited in Peter Riddell The Thatcher Government 1983 the Thatcher phenomenon 1986 cited in Bill Schwarz the Thatcher years p. [...]