Thatcher's Diplomacy: The Revival of British Foreign Policy

by P. Sharp

Overview

A wide-ranging, readable and controversial assessment of Thatcher's foreign policy throughout her years in office, 1979-90. Successive chapters cover her partnership with Lord Carrington, the Falklands War, her American policy, her fights with the EC over money and institutional development, her relationship with Gorbachev, and the failure of her German policy. In arguing that Thatcher's attempt to reconcile economic liberalism with political nationalism in a more assertive foreign policy prefigured the emerging statecraft of post-Cold War great power politics, Paul Sharp demonstrates why studying her successes and failures offers an invaluable guide for policy-makers around the world today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333688106
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	06/25/1999
Series:	Contemporary History in Context
Edition description:	1997
Pages:	269
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

PAUL SHARP is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He previously taught at Saint Olaf College and the University of British Columbia. He authored Irish Foreign Policy and the European Community in 1990 and has written several articles on British, American, and Soviet foreign policy published in Orbis (US), International Journal (Canada), Diplomacy and Statecraft and Millennium.

Table of Contents

Preface to the 1999 Edition Preface (1997) Introduction The Pursuit of Influence Foreign Policy and the 1979 Election Campaign The Thatcher-Carrington Partnership The Diplomacy of Disaster, Losing the Falklands Recovering the Falklands, the Diplomacy of War Thatcher's US Policy I, the Diplomacy of Support Thatcher's US Policy II, the Diplomacy of Interests Thatcher's European Policy I, the Demandeur Thatcher's European Policy II, Sovereignty and Nationalism Thatcher's Soviet Policy, Diplomacy at the Summit Thatcher's German Policy, the 'Unambiguous Failure' Thatcher's Statesmanship Notes Select Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

'...it is of great value to have Thatcher's foreign policy examined as a subject in its own right and not just as 'noises off' from a consideration of her overall role as Prime Minister. Paul Sharp steers a judicious course between the twin rocks of hagiography and demonisation.' - David Hannay, The Spectator

'Sharp writes with flair and nuance.' - Stanley Hoffman, Foreign Affairs

'...stimulating book.' - Douglas Hurd, Daily Telegraph

'...well-researched and wide-ranging. Sharp encourages us to look again at existing viewpoints on recent British policy.' - Peter Beck, International Affairs

'Whether they love or loathe Mrs Thatcher, readers of this book will find it as revealing as it is enjoyable. Paul Sharp has written what deserves to become a classic of political and international analysis - an intelligent and informative book about British foreign policy that is both erudite and entertaining.' - Raymond Cohen, Chair, Department of International Relations, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

From the Publisher