Conservatorismo, liberalismo e ideologia. Per una lettura del thatcherismo

Abstract

This study examines Thatcherism as an attempt to change the values and the political culture of the United Kingdom using economy as a tool. From the perspective of political theory this specific case arouses great interest and the different elements that made this transformation possible, in particular the “battle of ideas” and the role of political leadership, should be examined with great care. Thatcherism offers new perspectives to interpret conservatism and liberalism, and to reshape these political theories in order to address a series of new problems. This analysis presents some observations about the relationship between political theory and ideology and between market and democratic theory. Finally, Thatcherism is analysed using the concept of biopolitics elaborated by Foucault.