Introduction

Abstract

This monograph explores the relationship between the Thatcher and Reagan administrations in the 1980s with specific reference to their domestic policy agendas. Previous comparative studies of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan have explored the New Right, and the so-called special relationship in foreign affairs. However, there is no comprehensive study of the mutual impact of the Thatcher and Reagan administrations’ domestic policy. This research fills this gap by investigating the transatlantic relationship between the two administrations in this area of policy. Considering the extent of transfer in policy and tactics between the administrations and intellectual transfer to the administrations from individual academics and think tanks, this monograph will assess the Thatcher-Reagan relationship with regard to ‘who influenced whom’. Policy transfer refers to direct policy exchange or influence between the Thatcher and Reagan administrations. Tactical transfer refers to the tactics or behaviour of the administrations and the influence of one administration on the other. Intellectual transfer is the transfer of policies or ideas from outside of government, namely think tanks and academics; intellectual transfer can also be transatlantic. This introduction establishes the foundation of this study by offering an overview of the Thatcher-Reagan ‘special relationship’ in foreign affairs and the historiography of the topic.KeywordsMonetary PolicyPrime MinisterForeign AffairOral HistoryDomestic PolicyThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.