Britain in the 20th Century: The Collapse of the Postwar Settlement, 1964-1979

TL;DR

The collapse of the post-war settlement in the UK led to the rise of Thatcherism and new political ideologies.

Transcript

Gresham College presents the collapse of the post-war settlement 1964 to 1979 by Professor Vernon Bogdan all ladies and gentlemen this lecture is part of a series on post-war British politics and I should be talking about the collapse of the post-war settlement propel you to the coming to power of Margaret Thatcher the next lecture will talk on on ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Dissatisfaction with British economic performance compared to other countries led to calls for reform of the post-war settlement.
• 😀 Attempts to buttress the post-war settlement through planning and Europe integration faced challenges and resistance.
• 👶 The winter of discontent in 1978-79 highlighted the failure of income policies and the need for new approaches in governance.
• 💨 The collapse of the post-war settlement paved the way for the emergence of Thatcherism and new political ideologies.
• 🎮 The Tories' engagement with planning and state control in the 1960s was an unexpected shift in conservative policies.
• 🥳 The rise of the Liberals in the 1970s indicated growing dissatisfaction with the two major parties and the post-war settlement.
• 💦 Trade union power and discontent among the working class played a significant role in shaping political attitudes and election outcomes.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the dissatisfaction with British economic performance lead to the collapse of the post-war settlement?

Dissatisfaction arose when Britain's economic growth lagged behind other countries, prompting calls for reform and new economic strategies.

Q: What were the extreme responses from the left and right regarding the post-war settlement?

The left advocated for more state control to improve the economy, while the right proposed reducing the role of the state and welfare system, laying the foundation for Thatcherism.

Q: How did the introduction of planning and Europe as key strategies contribute to economic policy changes?

Planning and Europe were seen as solutions to boost economic growth, but their implementation faced challenges due to high export costs and trade union resistance.

Q: How did the winter of discontent in 1978-79 impact political attitudes and elections in the UK?

The winter of discontent, marked by widespread strikes and unrest, led to a shift in public opinion against the Labour government and the rise of support for Thatcherism.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The collapse of the post-war settlement in the UK between 1964-1979 resulted in dissatisfaction with economic performance compared to other countries.

• Centrist politicians saw the need to reform the settlement, while extremes on the left and right blamed the settlement itself for economic problems.

• Failed attempts to recreate the post-war settlement led to the emergence of Thatcherism and a shift towards market-oriented policies.