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‘Still too much socialism in B ritain’: The legacy of M argaret T hatcher
Author(s) -
Bey Huw
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
industrial relations journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.525
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1468-2338
pISSN - 0019-8692
DOI - 10.1111/irj.12051
Subject(s) - hegemony , power (physics) , politics , individualism , socialism , political science , political economy , sociology , law , communism , physics , quantum mechanics
M argaret T hatcher's death in 2013 was followed by extensive tributes to her achievements, often describing her role in ‘saving B ritain’. Other more sceptical voices pointed to the destructive aspects of her politics. This article explores these issues through an examination of the major confrontation with the coal miners and their trade union the NUM . Through published sources and interviews with key actors it argues that the dispute epitomised M rs T hatcher's concern to weaken trade unionism and defeat socialism. This (rather than issues of employment or energy policy) is seen as her strategic objective and her success can be measured in the changed nature of the L abour P arty. In this the exercise of state power was decisive. However, the article questions the extent to which ‘ T hatcherism’ and the associated individualism has prevailed as an hegemonic force. It provides examples of a continuing patterns of collective behaviour and beliefs and raises the possibility of an emerging and different form of labour movement.