ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an analysis of the most important aspects of Thatcherism. It discusses that the challenge Thatcherism presents to Conservative ideas and the post-war consensus. The chapter looks at the question of whether Thatcherism is new and radical when compared to previous Conservative thought. Within Conservative circles in the country, there has also been a concern to ensure that the enthusiastic adoption of the principles of economic liberalism does not undermine authority. National unity and stability have to be maintained by other means. This leads to the other main strand of Thatcherism, that of authoritarianism. Having set out the economic-liberal and authoritarian elements of Thatcherism it is now time to turn to the third element – populism. P. Riddell looks at the implementation and sees considerable departure from the rhetoric and therefore denies the existence of an ideology of Thatcherism.
