Britain faced Germany alone in World War 2 until the Soviet Union and USA joined in 1941. Although victorious, Britain's role as a great power declined after the war as it was eclipsed by the USA and Soviet Union. In the post-war period, Britain dismantled its empire and joined the EEC, experiencing tensions with its "special relationship" with the USA and conflict in the Falklands War. At home, the NHS was established in 1948 and postwar consensus politics pursued greater equality until challenged by Margaret Thatcher's right-wing government in 1979, which cut welfare, denationalized industries, and reined in unions.

1. 11. Victorious Decline: WWII
• Rise of Nazi Germany – from
Appeasement to Declaration of
War (1939)
• Battle of Britain and the Blitz
• Britain faced Germany alone
until Soviet Union and USA join
the war (1941)
• End of war in 1945 signals end of
UK as a great power
• Eclipsed by USA and Soviet
Union

2. 12. Post-War UK and the World
• 1947- c.1970 British Empire
dismantled
• 1973 Britain joins EEC (later EU)
- lukewarm support evolves into
widespread Euro-scepticism
• “Special relationship” with USA
– increasingly strained through
“wars on terror”
• Post-colonial conflict: Falklands
War 1982

3. 13. Post-War UK at home
• Establishment of National
Health Service 1948
• Consensus politics – greater
social equality, full employment
and mixed economy, incl. state
ownership of utilities
• Strong trade unions
• Consensus challenged under
Margaret Thatcher (right, 1979–
1990)
• Cuts in welfare, no support for
declining industries,
denationalisation of utilities,
trade union power reined in

4. Post-War Britain at home cont’d
• Cuts in welfare, no support for
declining industries,
denationalisation of utilities,
trade union power reined in
• “New Labour” under Tony Blair
(1997-2007) return to consensus
politics, but without reversing
Thatcher’s changes
• 2010 Coalition government –
indecisive election result brings
Tories and Lib Dems together
• Rise of UKIP