Statecraft |
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Margaret Thatcher
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Pages: (Paperback)
ISBN: 0007150644
Pub: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Pub date: 2003-03-03
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 224233
Reader Reviews:
enjoyable and revealing (0/0 people found this helpful)
Anyone with any interest in world history and world events will enjoy this book. Margaret Thatcher manages to explain complex issues in a straightforward way.
It is of course a completely biased, personal opinion, but this is refreshing: there is nothing worse than trying to follow a book which fudges and lapses into over-analysis.
Just as opinionated as ever (0/0 people found this helpful)
Firstly, a warning to potential buyers: because this book was first written in 2001 and then given a post 9/11 tweak in 2002 some of the comments are slightly out of date regarding the situation in the Balkans and the accession of former Soviet Union states to the EU. This aside, however, Baroness Thatcher's book is an excellent example of out of the box thinking, unrestrained by political strait-jackets. As you would expect there is fulsome praise of the United States which is used as the benchmark for economic and military applications in the modern world, although whether Mrs. Thatcher would be as enthusiastic following the recent debacle in Iraq is another question. The key theme of the book is sovereignty and the ability of states to act independently, whether this is demonstrated by making its own laws, deploying its military resources or entering into trading alliances; in other words no to a federal Europe, no to a European defence force, no to a single currency all of which make sense given the unwieldy decision making processes of the EU. This is robust, opinionated writing, and the defense of capitalism should be read by anyone interested in how to create a dynamic economy, especially the light-blue successors to Mrs. T. Great stuff, lets hope she writes another soon.
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.
Ironing things out (12/14 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.
Statecraft; the Diplomat's Manual (11/12 people found this helpful)
Margaret Thatcher has been out of Number 10 Downing street now for more than a decade. Yet she continues to play a major - albeit subtle - role in both British politics and international relations.
In Statecraft she seeks to draw upon her vast experience in foreign affairs and international diplomacy to suggest some strategies for the modern diplomat. The book covers almost everything one could want to know about a range of topics, including the end of the Cold War, the instabilities of Russia and the Balkans, the might of the Asian Economy, the Anglo-American "Special Relationship" and its role in international affairs, Britain's love-hate relationship with Europe... the list is almost endless. Throughout the books she presents her arguments with her characteristic clarity and bluntness.
No matter what one thinks about Lady Thatcher's years in Government - I am not too enthused by her social policy - this book is essential reading for anyone interested in international relations and politics. An inspirational read.
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