Margaret Thatcher: brexit precursor or recalcitrant pro-European

Abstract

Margaret Thatcher has been one of the most influential politicians in the European building process as she was the head of one of the most outstanding member states of Europe. Numerous British and European citizens continue to share her ideas currently so her importance goes beyond her period in politics. Her participation in different European developments such as the Single European Act or the British Rebate has consequences that still affect the whole of Europe. In addition, the iconic strength of his figure has been widely used during the campaign that preceded the British referendum that led to the brexit. The present investigation explores the figure of Thatcher from a unique perspective when analyzing her contributions to the process of European construction in the context of her contributions and her concerns to the integration process. The direct analysis of her actions and her statements regarding European integration are the basic pillar of the research carried out, with the aim of clarifying Thatcher’s position with regard to the European Union. Therefore, primary sources are essential, complementing secondary sources of high academic quality that have treated the subject tangentially. The problem of separating myth from reality, of discerning a character highly manipulated by different political actors to take advantage of her popularity, even today high, has been the greatest challenge of this research, whose results clearly reflect a Thatcher united to Europe, but not to the European Union.