The Anatomy of Thatcherism - Hardcover

Letwin, Shirley Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1560001062 ISBN 13: 9781560001065

Publisher: Routledge, 1993

Synopsis

The Anatomy of Thatcherism explains how, for the first time in British history, a prime minister's name has become an 'Ism'—a symbol of a profound social change. Letwin argues that Thatcherism promoted a moral agenda rather than an economic doctrine or a political theory in order to achieve a fundamental realignment in British politics. She introduces a new term—"the vigorous virtues"—to describe what Thatcherites have aimed to cultivate in Individual Britons and In the country as a whole.

Her definition of Thatcherism is supported by a detailed analysis of the principal Thatcherite policies and the grounds on which they were advocated and opposed, Inside and outside the Conservative Party. Without departing from a lucid and lively style or resorting to technical jargon. Dr. Letwin explains such innovations as schools opting out, budget holding by GPs, and the creation of the first ever competitive spot market in electricity. Just how did the Thatcherite administrations shape the reform of the unions? How is the Thatcherite attitude to the family connected with Thatcherite policies on schools? Why does mon­etarism appear—wrongly—to be at the heart of Thatcherism?

The Anatomy of Thatcherism is a bold and searching book about how Britain changed between 1979 and 1992. It challenges many truisms about British politics, and Is indispensable reading both for those who believe in the future relevance of Thatcherism and for those who want to demolish it. And it will be of particular interest to those con­cerned with the history of British politics, as It shows how Thatcherism both arose out of, and confronted, trends that had per­meated Conservatism for the entire twentieth century.

About this title

About the Author:

Shirley Robin Letwin writes and lec­tures on political philosophy. Apart from her books, she has published numerous essays in scholarly journals .and has contributed political commentaries to periodicals and newspapers. She has taught at Cambridge University, the London School of Economics, Harvard, Bran-dels, Cornell, and the University of Chicago. She has been a Guggenheim Fellow and a Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute. She is currently President of the Instltut International de Philosphie Politlque.

Review:

"Letwin does a superb job of describing Thatcherism's moral aspirations, which is where politics get forged...the beauty of the book is the way it connects policy details to fundamental philosophy and shows how the latter drives the former."

—David Brooks, Wall Street Journal

"Letwin writes about Thatcherism in ways untypical of most political scientists. She presents her understand­ing of the underlying purposes of Thatcherism and then clearly analyzes the policies of Prime Minister Thatcher's governments of 1979-90 to illustrate how those pur­poses were pursued."

—Leon D. Epstein, Political Science Quarterly

"A refreshingly novel, and at times insightful analysis of the essence of Thatcherism—as a moral, rather than economic, response to the conditions of 20th-century Britain."                                   

—J.B. Freyman, Choice

"A felicitously written, thoughtful study that illuminates what she terms 'the bundle of attributes' that make up Thatcherism."

—Irwin M. Selzer, National Interest

"An Anatomy of Thatcherism is distinguished from virtu­ally every other book on current politics by its philosophi­cal sophistication. It is this which allows Mrs. Letwin to explain how Thatcherism (and Conservatism in general) can be coherent without being theoretical."

—Kenneth Minogue, National Review

"This is a subtle and penetrating study of a most complex phenomenon"

—Conor Cruise O'Brien, The Daily Telegraph

"Mrs. Thatcher had a certain idea of the British—an idea which came to be known as Thatcherism. This idea is the subject of Shirley Letwin's thought-provoking book. Seldom have an author and a subject been better matched. . . . This magisterial study (Is) by far the best yet written . . ."

—Peregrine Worsthorne, The Spectator

"Letwln argues that Thatcherite policies, successful or not, aimed to revive Britain by restoring the "vigorous virtues": being upright, self-sufficient, energetic, adventurous, independent-minded. . . . The book is not meant to defend Thatcherism, but to explain what it was about."

—Minett Martin, The Sunday Telegraph

"For the first time in history, a British prime minister's name became an "ism"—a symbol of profound social change. Just what the change encompassed is the subject of this lengthy and detailed study of Britain under Thatcher."

—Ronan Sheehan, The Irish Press

"Her definitions and distinctions are wonderfully nice and precise, often arresting, demanding thought before being accented. Her book cannot have been easy to create. It cannot be read with the brain in neutral. It will none the less, be Indispensable to all who seek to understand our recent history, which Thatcherism shaped."

—Colin Welch, The Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 1560001062
• ISBN 13: 9781560001065
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 388