Statecraft

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Margaret Thatcher

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Pages: 486 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 0007107528

Pub: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Pub date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 269832

Reader Reviews:

Ironing things out (4/4 people found this helpful)

In this brilliant book, Thatcher discusses the state of the world at the start of the 21st century and the way forward, drawing on her considerable experience and keen insights. Chapter One: cold war reflections, touches on many subjects from the information revolution to the victory of the West in the cold war. Chapter Two looks at the American achievement including the concept of a unipolar world, military preparedness, defence technologies and missile defence.

Chapter Three deals with Russia, the legacy of communism, the role of the IMF, the failed economic reforms, the country's relations with its former Soviet colonies and what remains of its military power. Part One of Chapter Four explains why Asia, with half of the world's population and a third of all dry land, matters so much. Part Two deals with the Tigers: Singapore, South Korea and Indonesia, whilst Part Three is devoted to Japan. The next chapter, Asian Giants, deals with China (including Taiwan and Hong Kong) and India.

In Chapter Six, rogue states, religion and terrorism are discussed, with particular reference to North Korea, Islam, Iraq, Syria, Lybia and Iran. In Chapter Seven, Thatcher discusses human rights, genocide, the Yugoslavia and Rwanda criminal tribunals, the international criminal court and European court of human rights.

Chapter Eight investigates the Balkan wars whilst Chapter Nine is devoted to the European Union. Thatcher investigates the roots of the European idea, the European economic and social model, the pensions crisis, the common agricultural policy, the Euro currency as a means towards a superstate and the bureaucratic, anti-democratic nature of the EU.

Thatcher warns against the creeping loss of sovereignty to unaccountable EU bureaucrats who have only contempt for democracy. The next chapter looks at the current situation of the UK by investigating all the options of how her country might extricate itself from this mess. She advises Britain to stick to the Pound and to renegotiate the structure of the EU.

The last chapter strikes a devastating blow to the critics of capitalism by illustrating how well the free economies have been performing as opposed to the shackled economies of the remaining authoritarian regimes. She also dissects the absurdities of the global warming scare and discusses globalism and its enemies.

The postscript deals with accountability and the Magna Carta in a delightful description of Thatcher and her husband's visit to the memorial at Runnymede. She concludes the book with the observation that the political culture of the English-speaking peoples has given the world the ideas that power should be limited, force should not overrule justice plus the conviction that individuals have an absolute moral worth.

There are 20 full color potgraphs, 13 maps and 8 tables that enhances this highly readable and illuminating text. Bibliographic references are scattered throughout and the book concludes with a thorough index.

Clear. convincing and sensible (2/2 people found this helpful)

I would recommend ANYBODY to give this book a chance. Margaret Thatcher may not always have communicated in a way that was seen as 'trendy', 'cool', 'right-on' but if the reader actually READS and THINKS about her message it makes a great deal of sense.
This book is a tour de force. I wish I had read this a long time ago.
Margaret Thatcher was far more of a rebel than the left wing sheep who constantly tried to lampoon her.
It is tragic that so many people have been brainwashed to trust self interested bureaucrats and socialists with their lives. God bless Margaret Thatcher for trying to wake a few people up.

shrewd tour of geo-politics (8/10 people found this helpful)

Lady T gives us a whirlwind tour of geo-politics. Each topic from the Middle East to China is given the same format: a succinct history, personal anecdotes, analysis of the present, and Lady T's prescribed solutions.

While motoring around the world there is the occasional nod to her backers (US and Israel) and the odd swipe at socialism.

Unusually she skips the Irish Question. Presumably she views it as domestic politics? You get the strong feeling this was written for a US audience.

The best bit is where she gives Jiang Zemin a Paddington Bear "hard stare" after he lectures her on the UK's glass ceiling. I doubt he repeated it to The Queen.

Extremely well argued and concluded sermon (8/18 people found this helpful)

It should be no surprise to anyone that Lady Thatcher takes most of the credit for winning the Cold War, or at least encouraging the other controversial figure of the 80s, Ronald Reagan, to lead while she followed closely. It should also be no surprise that she does so with ample justification: the economic developmen in the UK in the 90s compared to the 70s should alone earn her a place in the heart of every Briton. It is also worth notin here that Lady Thatcher followed Winston Churchill in being voted out as soon as the danger was passed....
The only sore point for me was her continuous abuse of the EU. Granted, she is from a large country, but for us small fish on the eastern edge of Europe the EU and EMU, warts and all, were the best thing that could happen.
Any right-thinking people who think world owns them a living should avoid this book at all costs. I stresses frugality, hard work and personal responsibility as keys to well-being....

EXCELLENT (21/33 people found this helpful)

I found Mrs. Thatcher's book to be informative and entertaining. Her dry humour and witty writing style helped me enjoy this book. I recommend this book to everybody who is interested in world affairs, Mrs. Thatcher's insight is incredible and I found myself agreeing with her points. I found her sections regarding the EU particularly interesting and feel that her case is a valid one. My compliments to Mrs. Thatcher for a well written and thought provoking book.

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