Foreign Policy

Question 1

What was Thatchers stance on an EEC rebate?

Answer 1

• Thought Britain were overpaying to the EEC so made it her priority to achieve a rebate which she successfully achieved in 1984.
• This played well at home but did irritate some of her European counterparts.

Question 2

What were Thatcher’s positive links with France?

Answer 2

• A good working relationship with French President Francois Mitterrand.
• They worked closely on establishing the Channel Tunnel, agreed in 1986 and opening in 1994.

Question 3

What was the Single European Act?

Answer 3

1986. Created a single European Market.
      - Created the framework for a common defence policy.
      - Moved decision making from unanimity to qualified majority voting with the acceptance of more member states.

Question 4

What was Thatcher’s initial stance on the Single European Act?

Answer 4

• Recommended support for it as it enthused her support for a European free market.
• It passed with little controversy .

Question 5

What was the Westland Affair?

Answer 5

A disagreement between senior cabinet minister and Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine over wether British helicopter company would go to a European consortium or the US company Sikorsky.
- Heseltine resigned over the issue, representing the pro-European stance, and the company went to Sikorsky.
- This sowed the seeds for the schisms that would plague the Conservatives in the late 80s and following decade.

Question 6

What three pillars wer Thatcher’s contribution to ending the Cold War built on?

Answer 6

• Her combative style and will to confront the USSR in the early 80s.
• Her willingness to negotiate with the new reformist leader Michael Gorbachev.
• The fact that her foreign policy was founded on the special relationship with the US.

Question 7

What was Gorbachev’s stance on the Cold War?

Answer 7

• He was a realist who knew things couldn’t go on as they were.
• He promoted reform of the USSR and greater links with the West.

Question 8

How did Thatcher mediate between East and West?

Answer 8

• She met Gorbachev first in 1984 and helped convince Reagan to meet Gorbachev at the Reykjavik Summit in 1986.

Question 9

How did Gorbachev describe how he would reform the USSR?

Answer 9

• Perestroika - Restructuring the economic and political way the country worked.
• Glasnost - Openness - The Soviet government and others would be more open to the people in what they were doing and why.