The Free Economy and the Strong State: The Politics of Thatcherism - Hardcover

Gamble, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0333593324 ISBN 13: 9780333593325

Publisher: NYU Press, 1994

Synopsis

By the time Margeret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister in 1990, she has tranformed the fortunes of her Conservative Party. Under her leadership the Conservatives won three general election victories in a row over a divided opposition and enjoyed a degree of political and ideological dominance that led many to speak of the end of the socialist era and the emergence of a new consensus. What Reagan had done in the United States, Margaret Thatcher had done in Britain. A new word--Thatcherism--had entered the political lexicon. Thatcherism came to signify a wide-ranging and distinctive political project aimed at promoting economic recovery and restoring the authority of the state. This second, revised and updated edition of The Free Economy and the Strong State explores the political and ideological roots of Thatcherism and its relationship to the Conservative tradition and to the economic liberal ideology of the New Right, as well as to the new political agenda which emerged from the advent of recession and the crisis of the world order in the 1970's. Andrew Gamble provides a clear and thorough account of the genesis of Thatcherism in opposition, its record in government and of the way it has been analyzed by the left and right. His book makes a major contribution to separating rhetoric from reality and understanding both the impact and the limits of Thatcherism in its bid to establish a new political hegemony and tackle Britain's economic decline.

About this title

Review:

Reviewers comments on the first edition: '...this book is a fascinating review of the ferment in social and political life in the last quarter of the 20th century which will quickly become established on student reading lists.' - Talking Politics

'...this excellent book achieves a level of dispassionate analysis which has been rare in most examinations of Mrs Thatcher's politics. The book's assessment of both the provisional and the enduring aspects of the Thatcher era seem likely to stand the test of time.' - Arthur Aughey, Political Studies

Synopsis:

The Thatcher era was a turbulent and controversial period in British politics. Andrew Gamble's authoritative account - now revised and updated to cover Thatcher's fall and legacy - analyses the ideology, statecraft, and economic and social programme of the Thatcher Government. He explores rival interpretations of Thatcherism and assesses the evidence for claims that the Thatcher Government transformed British politics. A new conclusion considers the Conservative Party after Thatcher. Reviewers comments on the first edition: '...this book is a fascinating review of the ferment in social and political life in the last quarter of the 20th century which will quickly become established on student reading lists.' Talking Politics '...this excellent book achieves a level of dispassionate analysis which has been rare in most examinations of Mrs Thatcher's politics. The book's assessment of both the provisional and the enduring aspects of the Thatcher era seem likely to stand the test of time.' Arthur Aughey, Political Studies

About this edition

• Publisher: NYU Press
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0333593324
• ISBN 13: 9780333593325
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 296