Politics Theory Other Rewind: Alexander Gallas on the Thatcherite offensive
Nov 15, 2025
Alexander Gallas, an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the University of Kassel and author of 'The Thatcherite Offensive', delves into the nuances of Thatcherism. He discusses the contrasting views of Stuart Hall and Bob Jessop on hegemony. Gallas distinguishes between one-nation and two-nation hegemonic strategies, revealing the divide exploited by Thatcher's policies. He also examines the enduring influence of Thatcherism on New Labour, the rise of a finance-led economy, and the lessons this holds for contemporary politics, especially in relation to union strategies.
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Dividing 'Deserving' From 'Undeserving'
- Thatcherite rhetoric split society into 'deserving' hardworking people and 'undeserving' idle or privileged groups.
- This framing legitimised attacks on trade unions and privileged elite networks.
Replacing Privilege With Popular Capitalism
- The Thatcherite attack on 'gentlemanly capitalism' aimed to replace old privileges with popular entrepreneurial capitalism.
- New Tory MPs often embodied social mobility and promoted individualist, entrepreneurial values.
Class Politics Vs Economic Order
- Gallas separates class politics (direct interventions) from economic order politics (indirect but large class effects).
- Trade union law changes are class politics; monetary policy is economic order politics.
