Welcome to Englishdaily Podcast, I'm Zahra Yusefi and today we are going to learn about Thatcherism.

Thatcherism refers to a conservative ideology in Britain named after Margaret Thatcher, the leader of the Conservative Party. It encompasses not only her political platform and policies but also her personal character and management style while in office. Supporters of Thatcherism are known as Thatcherites. The term is used to describe the principles of the British government during Thatcher's tenure from 1979 to 1990, as well as subsequent conservative administrations under John Major and David Cameron. Internationally, Thatcherites are seen as part of the neoliberal movement, which advocates for political promoting expansionary capitalism.

Thatcherism represents a significant departure from the post-war consensus in British governance, where major political parties generally agreed on Keynesianism, the welfare state, nationalized industries, and tight regulation of the economy. However, Thatcher made an exception for the National Health Service (NHS), while remained popular and was considered safe under her administration.

The exact definition and legacy of Thatcherism have been subject to debate. Nigel Lawson, Thatcher's Chancellor of the Exchequer, described it as an ideology emphasizing free markets, limited government spending, tax cuts, British nationalism, privatization, and some elements of populism. Although Thatcher rarely used the term herself, she mentioned "Thatcherism" in a speech during her 1987 election campaign, referring to the economic successes achieved under her leadership.

Thatcherism shares similarities with other economic liberal movements worldwide, such as Reaganomics in the United States, economic rationalism in Australia, and Rogernomics in New Zealand. It aims to promote low inflation, a small state, and free markets through measures like tight control of the money supply, privatization, and restrictions on labor movements.

Thatcherism is associated with libertarianism within the Conservative Party, though it combines libertarian ends with strong and sometimes authoritarian leadership. While some argue that Thatcherism is genuinely libertarian, others suggest that it involves a strong central government in certain areas, such as trade unions and local authorities, leading to a combination of free-market principles and a robust state.

Thatcher's style of governance was characterized by centralization of power, bypassing traditional cabinet structures, and displaying personal toughness during key events like the Falklands War, the IRA bomb at the Conservative conference, and the miners' strike. Her government was also criticized for its approach to social issues and the welfare state, with Thatcher emphasizing personal responsibility and advocating for reforms to address dependency on the state.

Economically, Thatcherism is associated with monetarism, which prioritizes controlling inflation over unemployment, and supply-side economics, which focuses on creating a free market through tax cuts, privatization, and constraints on trade unions. However, there were debates within the Thatcher government about the strict application of monetarism, and some argue that the principles of monetarism were eventually abandoned.

Overall, Thatcherism represents a significant ideological and policy shift in British politics, with lasting effects on the country's economic and social landscape.

Trade union legislation

Trade union power was gradually reduced, unlike the approach taken by the Edward Heath government. The most significant clash with the unions occurred during the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) strike in 1984-1985, which ultimately resulted in the defeat of the miners' union. Both the Conservative Party and the NUM expected this confrontation with the trade unions, and its outcome contributed to the resurgence of capital's power over labor.

Domestic and social positions

Frequently, the problems of the country are attributed to societal issues. However, Margaret Thatcher believed society is merely a concept and that it is individuals and families who possess duties, beliefs, and the ability to take action. She valued personal responsibility and choice, emphasizing the importance of individual and familial actions over abstract societal concepts.

Thatcherite morality

Thatcherism combined conservatism with free-market economics, aiming to establish a rational tax-benefit economic system that promoted British efficiency and upheld a conservative social structure based on traditional moral values. While a minimal safety net for the poor remained, the focus was on encouraging individual effort and thrift. Thatcherism aimed to diminish the significance of welfare for the middle class and revive Victorian bourgeois virtues. It emphasized the importance of the family and differed from the extreme individualism of many neoliberal models. The ideology drew influence from historical experiences such as Methodism and concerns about an overly powerful state expressed by Hayek.

Norman Tebbit, a close ally of Thatcher, outlined the permissive society that conservatives should oppose, criticizing the acceptance of bad art, disregard for grammar and spelling, rejection of good manners, and the derision of family life. He believed that the lack of moral distinctions led to disorder in homes and classrooms, where there was no basis for punishment or reward. He also noted the acceptance of violence and soft pornography in the media, lamenting the consequences of these societal changes.

Sermon on the Mound

In 1988, Thatcher delivered a speech to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, where she justified her ideas on capitalism and the market economy from a theological perspective. She argued that Christianity focused on spiritual redemption rather than social reform and quoted St. Paul's statement that "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." Thatcher connected the concept of choice to Christianity, highlighting Jesus Christ's choice to sacrifice himself and asserting that all individuals have the God-given right to choose between good and evil.

Foreign policy

Atlanticism

Thatcher fostered strong transatlantic relations with US President Ronald Reagan during her time as prime minister. She publicly supported Reagan's policies even when other Western allies were less vocal. For instance, she allowed American military actions, such as the bombing of Libya in 1986, to use British bases and permitted the deployment of American missiles in response to the Soviet threat.

Europe

Thatcher initially supported Britain's entry into the European Economic Community in 1973, campaigned for a "Yes" vote in the 1975 referendum, and signed the Single European Act in 1986. However, towards the end of the 1980s, Thatcher became increasingly opposed to the idea of the European Community superseding British sovereignty. In her famous 1988 Bruges speech, she expressed her concerns about the European superstate and the erosion of Britain's achievements in reducing the role of the state.

Dispute over the term "Thatcherism"

The term "Thatcherism" is often attributed to cultural theorist Stuart Hall, but it was actually used by Tony Heath in 1973. Not all critics agree on the validity of the term, with some arguing that it was created by Thatcher's opponents to criticize her rigid adherence to specific principles. Others claim that her policies were consistent with long-standing conservative philosophy and not unique to Thatcherism. Some historians argue that the shift in British society's concerns towards individual rights and autonomy contributed to the appeal of Thatcherism.

Critics argue that Thatcherism came at a significant social cost to the British population. While Thatcher is credited with reviving the economy, she is also blamed for a rise in income inequality and poverty rates. The relative poverty rate doubled, and the childhood-poverty rate in Britain became the highest in Europe. The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, increased during Thatcher's government and remained high for the next two decades.

Thatcher's economic reforms have been linked to improved macroeconomic performance in the UK compared to other European economies. Tony Blair acknowledged the necessity of Thatcher's industrial and economic reforms, although he criticized some of her ideological tendencies. Nevertheless, her policies and their long-term effects remain a subject of debate and controversy.

This is Englishdaily Podcast and I'm Zahra Yusefi. Follow me on Instagram and subscribe the channel on YouTube and Castbox.