Thatcherism and British Politics, 1975-1997

This study places Thatcherism within the context of Conservative Party history and the developments of British politics. It explores the forces which account for Thatcher's emergence as a Tory leader in 1975, her caution as Leader of the Opposition until 1979 and her growing confidence and resulting domination of the British political scene until her downfall in 1990. After explaining her demise, the book examines the extent to which "Majorism" continued the Thatcherite project, in order to determine whether her impace is enduring. The book addresses such questions as whether Thatcherism is a distinct idealogical phemonemon in the party's history, and whether the ideological course of her governments was charted before she came to power. Was she the begetter of a new doctrine? Why was she electorally successful? Which is the most convincing explanation of the content of the Thatcher governement policies and to what degree did she reflect international developments? It goes on to look at the causes of her political demise and her political aftermath in the following years.