Foreign Affairs: the Falklands; the 'special relationship' with USA; moves…

The idea

Margaret Thatcher’s foreign policy transformed her into a formidable international figure. The 1982 Falklands War victory bolstered her domestic authority and global prestige. She cultivated a robust 'special relationship' with US President Ronald Reagan, sharing ideological alignment on free markets and anti-communism. Together, they made crucial moves to end the Cold War, with Thatcher famously declaring rising Soviet figure Mikhail Gorbachev a man she could "do business with" in 1984, before he became leader. However, attitudes to Europe proved highly contentious. While initially supporting the Single European Act (1986), Thatcher’s policies became increasingly Eurosceptic, culminating in her 1988 Bruges Speech. This shift exacerbated deep divisions within the Conservative Party.

What earns the marks

• Assess the impact of the 1982 Falklands War on Thatcher's domestic popularity and her emergence as a resolute international figure.
• Evaluate the ideological and strategic dimensions of the 'special relationship' between Thatcher and Reagan, particularly regarding nuclear deterrence.
• Analyse Thatcher's diplomatic role in moves to end the Cold War, acting as a crucial bridge between Reagan and Gorbachev.
• Examine Thatcher's evolving attitudes to Europe, contrasting her support for the Single European Act with her later Eurosceptic Bruges Speech.
• Explain how European integration policies fuelled ideological divisions within the Conservative Party, destabilising her leadership.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming Thatcher was always entirely anti-Europe.

  Put it right: She actively campaigned for the 'Yes' vote in the 1975 referendum and signed the Single European Act in 1986 before her later Euroscepticism.

• Stating the Falklands War was the sole reason for the 1983 election victory.

  Put it right: While significant, a divided opposition and improving economic indicators also played crucial roles.

• Assuming Thatcher and Reagan agreed on everything.

  Put it right: They clashed over issues such as the US invasion of Grenada in 1983.

Exam tips

• Link foreign policy successes, such as the Falklands, directly to Thatcher's domestic political dominance and the concept of 'Thatcherism'.
• Use the 1988 Bruges Speech as a turning point when analysing Conservative Party divisions over European integration.
• When evaluating the end of the Cold War, balance Thatcher's influence against the broader economic and political pressures facing the Soviet Union.