Unit 9 SAQ 9.6 AMSCO AP European History - Withrow

"We consider the efficacy of her policies from the point of view of Thatcher's and her government's stated aspirations. It is often assumed that Thatcher's goals were purely economic, the re-establishing of the principles of free-market fundamentalism... However, that is to underestimate the scale of her ambition. Thatcher sought to 'change the soul of the British people: and believed 'Economics is the method' by which this might be achieved.

The data do not support the hypothesis that Thatcher's policies were successful in reducing unemployment or increasing employment. Despite welfare reform, it was dependency, not employment, that increased during the 1980s....

Ultimately, Thatcher's policies failed to build a living tapestry of individuals.

Furthermore, her policy regime did not facilitate the UK's living within its means. Under [her policies], the typical Briton became more, not less, dependent on debt and benefits. Rather than promoting ethics and family values, [according to political scientist P. J. Deneen], her ideology 'has ruthlessly drawn down a reservoir of both material and moral resources that it cannot replenish."