Economy

Her anti-labor stance remains controversial, but Thatcher is credited with reversing England’s post-war economic malaise by cutting a bloated government bureaucracy and aggressively privatizing state-owned industries.

International affairs

Thatcher’s leadership in the Falklands war helped restore Britain’s standing as a military power. She also was the first Western leader to meet with Mikhail Gorbachev, and partnered with President Ronald Reagan to end the Cold War.

Politics

Though Thatcher was often a polarizing figure, her tough persona silenced critics who thought a woman could not effectively lead a major Western nation. Taking office two years before Reagan, she also helped usher in the modern conservative movement.

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State senators Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, and RaShaun Kemp, D-Atlanta, fist bump at the Senate at the Capitol in Atlanta on Crossover Day, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com