Thatcher and Foreign Policy 1979-1987 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the Falklands war?
- Key factor in their win
A
- 1982 The Argentine dictator, Galtieri, expected little opposition to invasion - nope under Thatcher
- A Task Force set off for the South Atlantic recapturing South Georgia by end of April
- Helped by USA
- By end of campaign, British had 6 ships sunk and 10 badly damaged
- 255 British lives lost
- with almost 800 casualties, many serious
- cost of operation estimated at £1,600 million
- exceeded since
- 1982 Falkland capital had been recaptured
2
Q
Controversy surrounding Falklands war?
A
- Sinking of the Argentine ship, Belgrano at a time when it was sailing away from the conflict area + outside the british imposed exclusion zone
- 368 crew members lost
- Shortly after HMS Sheffield was sunk by an Exocet missile
3
Q
Why did Thatcher respond to Falklands invasion?
A
- Thatcher took her familiar belligerent stance
- Opinion polls at the time indicated that military response had support of 83% of British public
- Conservatives disliked Argentine government for being aggressive foreigners + labour attacked Galtieri’s regime
- immense wave of patriotic fervour swept Britain
- encouraged by right wing press
4
Q
How did the US help britain win falklands war?
A
- USA helped British win the war:
- allowing use of US air base on Ascension Island
- provided anti radar weapons
- Sidewinder missiles
- and military intelligence
5
Q
Why was Falklands factor so impactful?
A
- Triumph beyond all expectations for Thatcher
- major factor for continuing her as PM
- Seen as spectacular success
- changed public and political climate:
- a mood of self-confident patriotism enveloped nation as it basked in first military triumph since war
- Tory Party became popular overnight, opinion polls showed 12.5 point lead over the Alliance; labour third place
6
Q
Describe the special relationship between Thatcher and USA?
A
- strong bond between Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
- similar ideological beliefs
- Thatcher-Reagan link powerful: particularly for Falklands War and Cold War
- 1986 Thatcher gave permission for US to use British air bases to bomb Libya
- They did differ in opinions over the US invasion of Grenada in 1983
7
Q
Thatcher and Defence
- how was relation to America important to this?
A
- Falklands
- Agreement with America over trade policy + over regional policy in areas e.g Latin America
- Needs of Britain and USA came closer together
- The deal on Trident, to provide so-called “British independent deterrent”, symbolised this unity
8
Q
What were the problems with NATO?
A
- 1980s, defence policy torn between
- pressure from NATO to increase expenditure
- and realisation it could not maintain higher levels than trade rivals
- Callaghan gov committed to spending extra 3% in real terms for NATO until 1986
- Economic problems and spiralling costs of new weapons and service pay –> prevented
- Royal Navy seen as target for expenditure cuts but Falklands War forced gov to postpone this option
9
Q
What was the trident system?
why was it controversial?
A
- Britain’s Polaris submarines were becoming obsolete
- 1979, President Carter offered Britain new Trident system as replacement
- 1980 deal accepted at £5 billion over 10 years
- provoked furious controversy
- Cost spiralled, soon to be assessed at £10 billion
10
Q
What was the Cruise missiles issue?
A
- Further Controversy fuelled by government decision to station 96 radar-evading Cruise missiles at US bases in Britain
- to be divided between Greenham Common and Molesworth bases
11
Q
How did the Cruise missile spark controversy?
A
- Cruise injected new life into CND
- passionate demonstrations
- e.g series of demonstrations by feminists and other woman supporters of unilateral nuclear disarmament at Greenham Common
- violent clashes between women and police
12
Q
How did Thatcher keep the view of her regarding defence positive?
However?
A
- tapped into nationalist sentiment
- Defence Secretary, Michael Heseltine, promoted image of Tories as strong on defence
- anti-Cruise demonstrations caused embarrassment for the left
- she strengthened her rep as tough, determined champion of British national interests
- iron lady
- falklands conflict reinforced this
13
Q
Second Term
What happened with Grenada?
A
- 1984
- the US invaded Grenada without prior notification to Britain
- put special relationship under some strain
- overall had little impact
14
Q
Second Term
What happened with Libya?
A
- 1986
- In bombing of Libya Thatcher allowed the USA to use British bases for long range attacks
- argued bombing was to dislodge Qaddafi regime thus justified
- faced criticism
15
Q
Second Term
What happened with Zimbabwe?
A
- Under pressure, Thatcher made concessions to black nationalists opposed to white supremacist regime of Ian Smith
- Elections would go ahead despite guerrilla activity from Joshua Nikomo and Robert Mugabe
- Sancions would cease from Nov 1979
- Zimbabwe to be given legal independence
- This led to 1980 election in which victory went to huge majority to Marxist, Robert Mugabe and a legally elected Zimbabwean state created
16
Q
Second Term
What were Britains relations more generally with Black African states?
A
- improved (partially cuz of Zimbabwe)
- Thatcher gained personal popularly following appearance at the Commonwealth Conference in Lusaka where she formed good relationship with President Kaunda of Zambia
17
Q
Second Term
What did Thatcher struggle with in terms of commonwealth relations + foreign office relations?
A
- credit for resolving Zimbabwe situation really belonged to foreign office and Lord Carrington
- and mediation of other heads of state
- Viewed repeated British withdrawals from colonial territories since later 50s with growing impatient, directed at consensus men in FO and Carrington
- anti-colonialist “Eurospeak” FO, in Thatcher’s pov was “not one of us”
- Zimbabwe set future mood for distrust
18
Q
What was Britain’s position in South Africa?
A
- played a part in maintaining boycott of cultural and sporting events in South Africa
- Africa, like Europe, low in British priorities
19
Q
Second Term
The New Cold War - describe sequence of events
A
- 1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- 1981: Roland Reagan wins US election
- 1983: Cruise Missiles based at Greenham Common
- 1984 Gorbachev becomes leader of USSR
- 1986: Gorbachev launches perestroika and glasnost and summits with the US begin
- 1986: Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland
20
Q
By late 70s how was west doing in Cold war?
A
- seemed west was losing
- when soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979
- was thought that this was dangerous threat to western interests
- disastrous venture, bleeding away what was left of Soviet military might
- soviet unions was on last legs in early 1980s
21
Q
Who were the new cold warriors?
A
- Between 1979 and 1981, three “new cold warriors” emerged
- Thatcher, Polish Pope, and American President
- determined to challenge soviets
- marked by tough rhetoric and rising tension Thatcher willing to support US through deployment of cruise missiles in Britain
22
Q
Did Britain fear a nuclear attack?
A
- Gov published Protect and Survive booklets: told people what to do in case of nuclear attack
- BBC TV drama, Threads: documentary style account of aftermath of nuclear attack
- When the Wind Blows; 1986 cartoon by Raymond Briggs sowed elderly couple preparing for nuclear attack
- pop songs - Kate Bush, Sting etc
- 1983: 200,000 marched with CND to London to oppose nuclear weapons
23
Q
What was Thatcher’s involvement in ending the New Cold War?
A
- her combative style and determination to confront USSR in early 1980s
- Willingness to negotiate with new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985
- Thatcher FP was founded upon special relationship with US
24
Q
Describe Thatcher’s meeting with Gorbachev and the ending of the cold war
A
- Met with Gorbachev in 1984
- declared “I like Mr Gorbachev” “he and I can do business together”
- encouraged reagan to negotiate with him in 1986
- Reykjavik, R and G prepared to make compromise (meeting ended without agreement)
- paved way for future progress
- 1987: the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed in Washington
- limited short-range weapons and began process of mutual disarmament
25
Q
What was Thatcher’s stance on Europe?
A
- Marked by many contradictions
- abrasive stance towards EEC matched lack of enthusiasm for enterprise
- clashed with European heads of state over Britain’s contributions
26
Q
First Term
What were the attitudes in 1979?
A
- Manifesto declared in favour of EEC membership and European Monetary System
- She seemed to promise a decisive and positive attitude to Europe
- However, she adopted a nationalistic approach to EEC issues
- wanted to be seen “winning arguments” rather than seeking compromise
- policy in line with traditional British foreign policy
- suspicion of European commitments, strong defence and close alliance with America
- represented free market, anti-state wing of Conservatism, determined to make Britain an enterprise economy
- saw EEC as means to consolidate Western Europe against communism
27
Q
When and What was the Dublin Summit?
A
- Dublin summit of EEC countries in Dec 1979
- Thatcher was highly belligerent in demands for a refund of British contributions, damaging relations with Germany and France
- 1982: allowed negotiations to be finalised by Carrington and Gilmour
- compromises were not to her liking: over the budget and agricultural policy
- right wing British press acclaimed Thatcher’s policy in Europe - success
28
Q
What happened with the ERM?
A
- Exchange Rate Mechanism
- Chancellor, Geoffrey Howe repeatedly stated Britain would join when conditions right
- 1979 oil price rises high inflation and volatile interest rates produced economic problems throughout Europe
- 1979-1983: many alterations in ERM’s central rate: failed to bring real currency stability until mid 80s
- young suggests real reason of Thatcher’s refusal to enter scheme was desire for monetarism
29
Q
What was the European Parliament Elections?
A
- first held in June 1979
- Fewer people voted in Britain than anywhere else in community
- EEC membership had brought no great economic gains to Britain since 1973
- opinion polls showed growing dissatisfaction with Europe
- Depression of 1979-81 worsened this
- EEC had little economic growth and members divided on many issues
- strengthened Thatcher’s Eurosceptisim
30
Q
Describe EEC Budget Contributions at first?
A
- Determined to get back some money Britain contributed to EEC (budget contributions)
- Antagonistic approach caused friction with other members
- Thatcher ignored FO suggestions and held firm
- The BBQ dominated Community agenda despite loads other vital issues: oil price inflation, recession, unemployment, Cold War
- Thatcher rejected placatory offer of £760 million (against FO advice)
- Slightly improved offer agreed
- BBQ continued to dominate discussion for next 3 years (needed permanent settlement)
31
Q
Describe EEC Budget Contributions when matter was finally resolved?
A
- 1984 disagreements reached point where Britain threatened to end all payments to EEC and French talked of excluding Britain from new EEC initiatives
- Matter finally resolved at the Fontainebleau summit with both sides apparently realising the dangers of disagreements
- Divisive nature of BBQ had deflected debate and possibly encouraged France and Germany to focus on supranational integration issues
32
Q
How was Thatcher regarding EEC policies?
- CAP
- Relations
- positives
A
- CAP still caused disagreements
- 1982: Thatcher had criticised its wastefulness and Britain vetoed farm price increases
- Veto overridden by majority of EEC members
- Two sides far apart
- Britain took anti-soviet line by establishing close links with US
- Deteriorating relations with France and Germany relieved by appointments of new PM which she did not develop relations with either
- EEC did generally support Britain over Falklands
- some steps taken to reduce agricultural overproduction under CAP
- settlement reached on fishing quotas
33
Q
How was membership after 10 years?
A
- 1983; 10 years of membership
- generally accepted that EEC membership had not achieved great benefits for Britain; but no great losses either
- Britain’s failings to expand trade; improve investment and develop new technologies blames on them not EEC (by pro-marketeers)
- Labour pro-marketeers split to form SDP under Roy Jenkins
- Labour proposed negotiated withdrawal - part of direction that helped decimate labours vote
34
Q
Give a summary of Thatcher and Europe
A
- Pro Thatcher commentators praise her stance over BBQ
- others concentrated on detrimental impact of EEC relations and delays in dealing with other issues
- strong stance reinforced britain’s growing loss of power to EEC
35
Q
Second Term
What did Thatcher propose in her second term in relation to Europe
A
- Thatcher advocated closer cooperation on foreign technical and environmental policies
- significantly a “single market” to end all non-tariff barriers to trade
- this entitled “Europe-the future”: her most pro-euro policy to date
- britain’s aim’s to control spending clear
- Thatcher opposed strengthening the European Parliament or the Commission
- Britain stood out as reluctant to take part in deeper integration
