This paper should bring three main topics into accordance because all three, be it Thatcherism, the miners' strike and the working class issue, are mutually dependend from each other. However, the purpose of this paper is not to retell every single event that occured during the progression of the miners' strike or to draw a chronological succession. Instead, it is rather concerned with the examination of the strike's prevailing circumstances.
It is going to raise the question inhowfar the existence and the condition of the working class conscience in Britain had changed due to the occurences before, during and after the strike. Hence there will probably be no definite explanation, this term paper should at least try to give an overall view on the reasons for a shift in the British class structure.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Margaret Thatcher and the Trade Unions
2.1 Thatcherism
2.2 Solving the Trade Union Problem
3. The Working Class in the Miners' Strike 1984/85
3.1 Triggers of the Strike
3.2 Supporters and Opponents
3.3 Who is the Enemy?
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This term paper examines the socio-political impact of Margaret Thatcher’s policies on the British working class, specifically focusing on the 1984/85 miners' strike. It explores the shifting class structure in Britain and evaluates the relevance of Marxist theory in light of the strike's failure and the subsequent decline of industrial collectivism.
- Analysis of Thatcherism and the legislative curbing of trade union power.
- Examination of the industrial and political triggers of the 1984/85 miners' strike.
- Assessment of the role of solidarity and internal divisions within the working class.
- Evaluation of the "enemy within" narrative and its impact on the strike.
- Investigation into the long-term decline of the traditional English working class.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 Who is the Enemy?
It was after having won the Falkland war when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher held a speech in a private meeting of the 1922 Committee of Conservative at Westminster in which she drew parallels between the Falkland issue and the mining industry. She said that they have been fighting the enemy without in the Falkland war and in comparison to that she mentioned that it is much more harder to fight the enemy within. With saying that she willingly expressed her antipathy regarding the working class and their unions which she obviously imagined to get rid of.
The strike, she said, caused a wave of violence and troubles within the nation, making it look undemocratic and uncivilised. Opposing to her speech stands the opinion of the working class that is arguing whether they are the enemies within or the establishment. As having described the lower class as the enemy within, Thatcher herself initiated the outbreak of the strike as well as its smashing with the help of a militant police force that was just as violent as the striking labourers or even more. This, however, lays within the perspective of each of the two groups. Both seem to have a different opinion on who the enemy is. The borders of the friend or foe-scheme are in a way blurry.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation by introducing Marx’s view on the working class and outlines the paper's intent to explore the interdependency of Thatcherism, the miners' strike, and British class identity.
2. Margaret Thatcher and the Trade Unions: This section details Thatcher's political ideology and her systematic approach to weakening trade unions through legislative reforms and economic restructuring.
3. The Working Class in the Miners' Strike 1984/85: This chapter analyzes the specific catalysts for the strike, the dynamics of internal support and opposition, and the rhetoric used by both the government and miners to define their antagonists.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that the strike's failure marked a significant shift in class structure and challenged the viability of traditional Marxist revolutionary potential in late 20th-century Britain.
Keywords
Thatcherism, Miners' Strike 1984/85, Working Class, Trade Unions, Marxism, Proletariat, Capitalism, Industrial Relations, Ridley Report, Arthur Scargill, Margaret Thatcher, Class Consciousness, Privatisation, Social Mobility, Industrial Decline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper examines the intersection of Thatcherite policy, the 1984/85 miners' strike, and the resulting transformation of the British working class.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the decline of industrial power, the legislative weakening of unions, internal class divisions, and the ideological conflict between the government and the mining community.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how the existence and condition of working-class consciousness in Britain were altered by the events surrounding the miners' strike.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis of political history, secondary literature, and theoretical frameworks, specifically contrasting Marxist class theory with the reality of 1980s British industrial relations.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers Thatcher's legislative period, the triggers of the strike (such as the Ridley Report), the role of solidarity and division, and the polarized perceptions of the "enemy."
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Thatcherism, the 1984/85 Miners' Strike, class consciousness, industrial relations, and the role of the National Union of Mineworkers.
How did Thatcher justify her stance against the miners?
Thatcher utilized the rhetoric of the "enemy within," characterizing the striking miners and their unions as a threat to the democratic and liberal order of the state.
What role did the Ridley Report play in the strike?
The report served as a strategic blueprint for the government to prepare for and ultimately defeat industrial action in key sectors, including the coal industry.
Did the miners' strike result in a unified working class?
No, the paper highlights significant divisions, such as the opposition from Nottinghamshire miners, which hindered the collective action of the working class.
- Quote paper
- Diana Kiesinger (Author), 2011, The Enemy Within. The Effects of Miner's Strike in 1984/85 on the Continuity of the English Working Class, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/296330
