Description
Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles
The first woman elected to lead a major Western power and the longest serving British prime minister for 150 years, Margaret Thatcher is arguably one the most dominant and divisive forces in 20th-century British politics. Yet there has been no overarching exploration of the development of Thatcher''s views towards Northern Ireland from her appointment as Conservative Party leader in 1975 until her forced retirement in 1990. In this original and much-needed study, Stephen Kelly rectifies this.
From Thatcher's no surrender' attitude to the Republican hunger strikes to her nurturing role in the early stages of the Northern Ireland peace process, Kelly traces the evolutionary and sometimes contradictory nature of Thatcher's approach to Northern Ireland. In doing so, this book reflects afresh on the political relationship between Britain and Ireland in the late-20th century.
An engaging and nuanced analys
Trade Review
Filled with new detail after new detail gleaned from a host of archives and first-hand interviews, this book tells the fascinating story of an iconic party leader and prime minister forced by events into making more concessions than she and her colleagues ever imagined possible. Required reading for anyone interested in the Thatcher era, as well as in the Troubles and the tortuous route out of them. * Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London, UK. *
A major subject, examined through the interrogation of very rich source material. A fascinating study of painfully evolving relationships. * Richard English, author of Does Terrorism Work? A History. *
This detailed and meticulously researched study, based on an examination of a wide range of archival sources and on first-hand interviews, shows that the development of events forced Thatcher and her governments into making more concessions than they had ever imagined making. It’s a compelling exploration of a central dimension of the Troubles. -- Brian Maye * The Irish Times *
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements Glossary Notes on Primary Sources Introduction Part I: Leader of the Opposition, 1975-1979 1. Thatcher and the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland Policy, 1975-1979 2. Airey Neave and the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland Policy, 1975-1979 Part II: First-Term in Office, 1979-1983 3. Thatcher and the Evolution of the British Government's Northern Ireland Policy, 1979 4. The Atkins' Talks and the Haughey-Thatcher Relationship, 1980 5. Thatcher, the Second Republican Hunger-Strike and Anglo-Irish Relations, 1981 6. The Prior Initiative, the Falklands War and Anglo-Irish Relations, 1982 Part III: Second-Term in Office, 1983-1987 7. Thatcher, Fitzgerald and the Evolution of Anglo-Irish Relations, 1983-1984 8. Thatcher, American-Anglo Relations and the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985-1986 Part IV: Third-Term in Office, 1987-1990 9. Thatcher and the Genesis of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, 1987-1990 Conclusion Bibliography Index
