How Far Did Ideas And Ideology Shape The Course Of British Politics Since 1945

Many broad traditions of political and social ideas or ideologies can be identified in Britain since the nineteenth century, including most importantly, socialism and liberalism. The approach followed in this essay is that it was not the role played by ideas and ideology that shaped the course of British politics since 1945, rather it was the circumstances surrounding those ideas at the time. It was these circumstances that led to the contemporary changes and developments in our political system which are still alive today.
Ideas and ideologies have indeed in some ways shaped the course of British politics since 1945. Concepts such as liberalism, socialism and conservatism have allowed politics to broaden due to circumstances in the developing

“Thatcher’s brand of conservatism marks a sharp break from the Tory tradition, and has more in common with a nineteenth century Liberalism”. Liberalism set the main foundation of Thatcher’s policies as she started considering equality and individual freedom. However, as a result of the ideology continuity, her monetarist policy failed due to there being no new ideas. This means the concept of her overcoming the rising unemployment led to increased inequality, ironically abandoning her ideology of liberalism to begin with. Thatcherism itself represented an economic laissez-faire attitude; it represents a belief in free markets and a small state but also sends the message that rather than planning and regulating business and people’s lives, the governments job is to get out the way. It should be restricted to the bare essentials; defence of the realm and currency. This was a revolutionary, and some may say dangerous, concept to most postwar politicians. Central planning of industry and society had helped to win the war. The only way to "win the peace", it was believed by the leaders of both the Labour and Conservative parties, was to plan and control industry, most of which were owned by the state. Thatcher herself was not alone in rejecting state ownership of businesses and socialist central planning. However, it was only when the country had been shot by industrial conflict and utter decline that it began to look like a suitable alternative. This itself is another example of circumstances shaping politics. From the beginning, like other right wingers, Thatcher rejected this state ownership idea but when her country was crippling and she was desperate for something to help bring Britain back to prosperity that she started to explore this option, and then brought about the ideas and ideologies; so once again, we see circumstances being the reason the ideas and ideologies are given life,