'Iron Lady' admired, reviled
NOT since Winston Churchill has a British prime minister strutted the world stage as did Margaret Thatcher: maybe because both flaunted that "bulldog streak." They had their ups and downs, were possibly admired more abroad than at home, but the first -- and thus far only -- woman to occupy 10 Downing Street also had the questionable distinction of being pressured from within to quit. That, despite being the longest serving prime ministers of the 20th century. The reasons for her fall from grace were firmly rooted in the determination that enabled her to rise from humble origins to leading her nation, uncharacteristically when heading the traditionally "upper crust" Conservatives. Thatcher was, to use the current buzzword, a game-changer.
She inherited a moribund economy that impacted the national mindset, and dared do the unthinkable: battled the powerful trade unions, opted for massive privatisation, shut down inefficient collieries. In short, she gutted the welfare state of its "socialist" impediments. The period of dislocation was difficult, and it remains an open question if her right-wing policies have succeeded. Some contend "de-regulated" policies are at the core of the European financial crisis, yet Thatcher was ever a "reluctant European": in fact her negativity on the EU triggered the in-house revolt that caused her exit.
Philosophic affinity with Ronald Reagan saw Anglo-American cooperation regain its World War II level, and they joined forces to dismantle the "evil empire," end the Cold War. That a uni-polar world has its downside cannot be denied, but during that process Thatcher proved an ability to engage with those with whom she had serious differences. In his tribute, Mikhail Gorbachov recalled the effect of her stating he was someone with whom she could "do business."
It was a different kind of business she did in the South Atlantic when she re-wrote military doctrine by dispatching a task force to reclaim the distant Falklands. Reacting to her passing the islanders have hoped they will, if necessary, be provided similar "protection" since Argentina is reviving its claim over the Malvinas.
Thatcher was generally projected as arrogant and cold, but those who worked with her insist she was personally warm and considerate. Tributes to her leadership have been flowing from all over the world, but large sections of British society have not been hamstrung by the convention not to speak ill of the dead. The scars of the wounds she inflicted on communities, coal miners in particular, have yet to heal, and the victims have been articulating that. Maybe "Maggie" would have understood such forthrightness -- she never was a "softie."
© The Statesman (India). All rights reserved. Reprinted by arrangement with Asia News Nwework.
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