5th – 6th April 2018 at the University of Liverpool

THATCHERISM NOW
The Second Annual Thatcher Network Conference


KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Lord Michael Heseltine
Stephen Farrall (Sheffield)
David Jeffery (Liverpool)

We invite abstracts (for papers lasting 20 minutes) which respond to the theme “Thatcherism Now”.

The conference is concerned with the notion of Thatcherism after Thatcher. It asks how we can identify and understand the legacy of Thatcher and Thatcherism in Britain (and abroad) post-1990. Conor Burns MP disclosed that Thatcher had boasted of New Labour being her greatest achievement. But to what extent is it true that Labour under Tony Blair represented a continuation of her politics? Theresa May’s embrace of a so-called ‘hard Brexit’, her nationalist discourse and unwavering approach to EU negotiations has led to multiple, contrasting comparisons with Thatcher. How should we understand the influence of the UK’s first female Prime Minister on its second? Is May truly the first “post-Thatcherite” Prime Minister? From Meryl Streep’s performance in The Iron Lady to François Fillon’s appearance as “The French Thatcher” on the cover of Libération, Thatcher’s image continues to be used internationally. What has Thatcher come to symbolise in a contemporary context? What does this say about how she is remembered? We are interested in papers which provide answers to questions such as these – and which shed new light on Thatcher’s legacy.

We welcome abstracts from all subject disciplines: our 2017 conference featured papers from specialists in history, politics, literature, philosophy, media studies, economics and linguistics among others.


Papers may cover – but are not limited to – topics such as:

  • Archival findings which challenge established narratives of Thatcher’s time in government
  • Literary and cinematic (re-)constructions of Thatcher
  • Thatcher and Theresa May – departure or continuity?
  • Thatcherism’s impact upon New Labour
  • Thatcherism’s influence on the politics and perceptions of British-European relations
  • The continuity of Thatcherite ideas of nationhood and citizenship
  • The legacy of Thatcher’s policies (e.g. Right to Buy)

Submit abstracts of up to 350 words to antony.mullen@dur.ac.uk by Friday 3rd November 2017.
Submissions should include a speaker biography (of up to 150 words) and be submitted as a Word document. Please indicate your willingness to contribute your paper to an edited collection of essays.

 

Organising Committee: Antony Mullen (Durham), Keshia Jacotine (Monash) and Steven Daniels (Liverpool)

The Thatcher Network is committed to social and political diversity. We particularly welcome submissions from women, black and ethnic minority individuals, and those on the political right. Submissions from PhD students and ECRs are also welcomed.

 

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