Thatcher and Thatcherism (The Making of the Contemporary World) [Paperback]

Eric J. Evans (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415136946 | ISBN-13: 978-0415136945 | Publication Date: September 8, 1997 | Edition: 2nd

Thatcher and Thatcherism surveys the origins and impact of Thatcherism as a cultural construct and an economic creed. Centering on the career of Margaret Thatcher, the author argues that Thatcherism was a bold experiment in ideologically driven government which failed to meet its objectives.

Thatcher and Thatcherism includes discussion of:

* privatisation and the fate of the trade unions
* Britain's slow economic decline versus Thatcher's delusions of British grandeur
* the legacy of the Falklands and of Britain's approach to Europe
* education, the civil service and crime
* the poll tax fiasco.

This expanded second edition brings the book up-to-date to consider the Blair administration in the light of the Thatcherite legacy and draws on the latest memoirs from politicians of the period, particularly concerning Thatcher's fall. The second edition also includes a critical summary of the general elections since 1979 and a chronology of key events and a glossary of leading political figures of the era.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A well-written account of a complex period ...one of the best introductions to the debate.
–W.R. Garside, University of Birmingham

Strongly recommended to students ... ideal as an accessible overview of Thatcherism.
–Lisa Harrison, University of the West of England --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2nd edition (September 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415136946
• ISBN-13: 978-0415136945
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,450,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A readable but flawed book, January 2, 2011

By 

Adam L. Coleman "Just a guy who likes movies." (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thatcher and Thatcherism, Second Edition (The Making of the Contemporary World) (Kindle Edition)

Evans has created a highly enjoyable, briskly-paced and accessible summary of the Iron Lady's rise, fall and legacy. As someone who was only a child during the Thatcher years, the book gave excellent background and context to the election of the Thatcher government and the Britain she inherited and governed. The book is also effective at critically evaluating some of the myths around this archetypal 'conviction politician'. Overall, the picture, well-painted, is of a pragmatic - if ideologically-assured - politician whose impeccable instincts seemingly deserted her towards the end of her reign. (This Australian reader cannot help but make comparisons with our own former prime minister, John Howard, in that respect.)

Where the book is less successful is in the evaluation of Thatcher's key policies through her reign. While not actively hostile, Evans displays something of a bias. For example, he appears to dismiss privatisation as a policy failure without really explaining why - desperate references are even made to 'grotesque' salaries! The book is also littered with references to 'market forces' being unleashed, with the implication, or in some cases explicit assertion, that these 'forces' have had a range of negative impacts on the 'losers' from reform. While an elegant and attractive narrative (to some), it is never really established that Thatcherite reforme genuinely caused the growth in social inequality that Evans so dislikes. Indeed, Thatcher's abiding interest in promoting economic prosperity appears to irk Evans in and of itself. This culminates in a ridiculous final paragraph that makes the author appear just like the old school Tory grandees whose snobbery he earlier mocks.

While it has faults, Evans book deserves a qualified recommendation. For those of an anti-Thatcher, left-wing disposition, it will provide some superficially credible amunition. For those who aren't, it is a good primer on one of our times' remarkable personalities, but nothing more.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for information, but boring, July 4, 2011

By 

Aaron the Historian - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thatcher and Thatcherism, Second Edition (The Making of the Contemporary World) (Kindle Edition)

I enjoyed getting to read this book, as it gave me an interesting viewpoint into the background of Thatcher and her policies. This was a great way to get a glimpse of the British political system. The luck that she saw with the start of the Falklands war forever changed British history. Though there is no way of knowing for sure, it is quite possible that the privatization of industry would never have reached the levels that it sees today and that the UK would look much more like the rest of Europe.

In addition, the Third Way of Clinton and Blair that came as a response to the policies of Reagan and Thatcher would not have had to been so drastic. Makes one think.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive!!, July 8, 2010

By 

Jamar A. Billups "Jbillups" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thatcher and Thatcherism (The Making of the Contemporary World) (Paperback)

"Thatcher and Thatcherism" is the definitive analysis of the Premiership of Margaret Thatcher, arguably one of the greatest and prime ministers in British history. This analysis is highly recommended to readers researching or merely interested in that Thatcher years from 1979-1990 that changed Britain's international standing in the eyes of the world. Evans gives great insight into Thatcher's controversial economic policies of privatization, her stance on on integrated Europe, her quest to restore power and prestige to the British imperia psyche, and her leadership during the Cold War.