What has happened, that still has an influence on recent policy of even more left-winged parties as Labour in Britain as the following statement shows? “The Labour (Party) has moved to the right since 1983 is undeniable (…). Is it best explained as an updating of socialism in the face of modernity? Or else as Tory clothes-stealing, a necessary or unnecessary concession to political enemies in the interest of securing an electoral victory?”2 Therefore the goal of this thesis will be to fathom the position of this new economic agenda, called ‘New-Right’, which has at a stretch been adopted by the most former left from the centre positioned parties in the Western World. Of which kind is this strong ideology that caused the crisis of the “New Left” by cutting back the state and the welfare state. This thesis shall furthermore give an idea to what extend did Thatcherism influence the observable substantial change and to what extend were the targets of this ideology achieved successfully or not. But to do so, it is first necessary to give an short overview on the development of state intervention in the shape of the welfare state with a main focus on Britain. Accordingly main economic thoughts and their ideology on social welfare will be illuminated briefly. After elementary information is provided Thatcherism, meaning its ideas, ideology, main aims and critics of interventionalism will be introduced. By doing so it will be possible to evaluate how successful Mrs. Thatcher and the Tories were in rolling back the state. To conclude the recent situation of the “New Left” as political agenda will be touched on.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Welfare state
2.1. General definition
2.2. Historical overview on the development of the welfare state
2.3. Social Policy in Britain
3. Economic Thought
3.1. The role of ideology
3.2. Economic Thought and the welfare state
4. The New Right and Thatcherism
4.1. Arguments of the New Right against state intervention
4.2. Thatcherism, its policy and the results
4.3. Economic performance and the welfare state
5. Crisis of the New Left
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines the rise of the 'New Right' economic agenda and its impact on the welfare state, with a specific focus on the political and economic landscape of Britain during and after the Thatcher era.
- Historical development of state intervention and the welfare state
- Comparative analysis of diverse economic schools of thought
- Critique of Keynesianism by New Right and Thatcherite ideologies
- Evaluation of policy outcomes under Thatcherism
- Examination of the political crisis facing the New Left
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
“In March 1984 the miners' strike began. Once more, a Tory government believed this was a direct challenge to the rule of government rather than an industrial dispute. It was generally depicted as a confrontation between the PM, Margaret Thatcher and the President of the NUM (the National Union of Mineworkers) Arthur Scargill. What followed has been described as some of the most violent confrontations between trade unionists and police ever seen in England. The miners drifted back to work after twelve months of hardship and the strike collapsed”. This fierce fight against trade unions was part of a economic-political revolution. A totally new age had begun, in which the Iron Lady and the Tories embarked a new strategy. Part of this strategy was not only to restrict power of trade unions but even more to cut back the state, meaning economic interference, the welfare state and public companies and thus free the markets.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the socio-political climate in Britain during the 1980s and defines the research scope regarding the shift toward the 'New Right' and the restructuring of the welfare state.
2. The Welfare state: Defines the welfare state's goals and provides a historical progression from early social policies to the post-war consensus in Britain.
3. Economic Thought: Explores the role of ideology in shaping economic theory and categorizes various economic schools from the Austrian School to the Marxian School.
4. The New Right and Thatcherism: Details the theoretical arguments against state intervention and analyzes the implementation and results of Thatcherite policies in Britain.
5. Crisis of the New Left: Discusses the ideological vulnerability of the Left following the rise of the New Right and the subsequent influence of these agendas on modern political parties.
Keywords
Thatcherism, Welfare State, New Right, Keynesianism, Monetarism, Social Policy, Economic Ideology, Britain, Industrial Relations, State Intervention, Market Efficiency, Political Economy, Labour Party, Privatisation, Economic Performance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the emergence of 'New Right' economic ideology and its transformative impact on the welfare state, primarily using Great Britain as a case study.
Which thematic fields are central to the analysis?
The central themes include the historical evolution of social policy, the tension between Keynesian and market-oriented economic models, and the political shifting of parties like Labour in response to Thatcherite agendas.
What is the primary objective of the thesis?
The goal is to assess the impact of Thatcherism on the British state and evaluate whether the goals of the New Right ideology were successfully achieved in terms of economic performance and social restructuring.
What research methodology is employed?
The paper uses a descriptive, historical, and comparative analysis of economic theories and political agendas, supported by existing literature and empirical economic data from the period.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers the definition and history of the welfare state, a comparative review of seven major economic schools of thought, the specific arguments of the New Right against state intervention, and the long-term political effects of these policies.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Thatcherism, Welfare State, New Right, Keynesianism, Monetarism, Social Policy, and Economic Ideology.
How did Thatcherism specifically seek to restructure the administration of welfare?
Thatcherism introduced a business-like approach involving the breakup of administration into agencies, the introduction of 'management' practices, and the creation of 'quasi-markets' to foster competition in public services.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the recent political landscape?
The author concludes that the ideology of the New Right has deeply penetrated society, leading to a long-term shift where even left-leaning parties like New Labour have adopted or extended aspects of the 'old right wing' agenda in areas like health and education.
- Quote paper
- Timur Karabiber (Author), 2004, Thatcherism and the welfare state, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/31354
